Kirsten Dunst has signed on to play the female lead in Midnight Special, alongside Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton.

The story centers on a father who must go on the lam with his eight-year-old son, discovering along the way that the child possesses special powers. No details were given for Kirsten Dunst's role, and it isn't clear if Michael Shannon or Joel Edgerton is playing the father.

Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter) is directing from his own original screenplay, with Sarah Green and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones producing for Warner Bros. No production schedule was given.

Kirsten Dunst is coming off roles in On the Road and Upside Down. She will next be seen in Paramount's comedy sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and The Two Faces of January.