"Superbad" star takes up "Revolt"

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Michael Cera, one of the stars of the Friday release "Superbad," has joined "Youth in Revolt," an adaptation of a novel that garnered a cult following throughout the world.

C.D. Payne's self-published novel led to a series of books featuring a teenager named Nick Twisp. The conceit of the novels is that Twisp strives to balance out his budding sexual urges while remaining an intellectual teenager in a world of moronic adults.

In the first novel, Twisp meets the girl of his dreams while on a family vacation and he turns his life and the lives of all those around him upside down in order to be with her. It has been staged as a play, broadcast over the radio and inspired countless fan Web sites.

"(Payne) is an incredible writer," Cera said, adding that part of the books' appeal is that the author didn't attempt to fake writing in the language of a 14-year old. "He doesn't try to dumb it down. He just made the kid a very intelligent, well-spoken kid and wrote in his own voice."

Cera is a huge fan of the book, having read it four times. "I have a copy signed by C.D. Payne. It's my most prized possession."

The project is set up at Dimension Films, where co-chairman Bob Weinstein said the studio hoped to make a "a cutting-edge film with lots of laughter." No director is set yet.

Cera, along with Jonah Hill, has been riding a wave of positive buzz off "Superbad." Previously best known for his role as George Michael Bluth on Fox's "Arrested Development," Cera will next appear in Jason Reitman's "Juno" for Fox Searchlight, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter