Fox Searchlight Pictures announced that director Jean-Marc Vallée began principal photography in Oregon this week on Wild. The film stars Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon. The screenplay is adapted by Oscar nominated writer Nick Hornby from author Cheryl Strayed's NY Times #1 best-seller Wild, the book that re-launched Oprah's Book Club 2.0. Pacific Standard's Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea are producing with River Road Entertainment's Oscar nominated Bill Pohlad. The film's executive producers are Nick Hornby, Bergen Swanson and Jonathan Ross, Jean-Marc Vallée 's producing partner.

Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, W. Earl Brown, Gaby Hoffmann, and Kevin Rankin have also joined the cast. The film will shoot on location in Oregon and California.

With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.

Says Jean-Marc Vallée,

"I am truly honored to have the opportunity to bring Cheryl Strayed's amazing journey to life on film, and to work with Pacific Standard, River Road Entertainment, Fox Searchlight, and Reese Witherspoon . There is so much naked honesty to her book, so much humanity. And I can say the same about Nick Hornby 's screenplay: a page turner. I couldn't put it down. So emotional. So unique. This tale is not just set in the 'wild', it's about the 'wild' in all of us."

Said Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea,

" Nick Hornby's script about author Cheryl Strayed's 1,100 mile trek through largely untouched wilderness captures the poignancy and spirit of the life-altering journey that the author lived 18 years ago. Having Cheryl available to us here in Oregon is invaluable... her spirit, her presence, and her input on the physical and emotional details of her trek are a gift to the production. We couldn't mount this challenging production without the unwavering support of Fox Searchlight."

Claudia Lewis, Fox Searchlight Pictures President of Production states:

"We are thrilled to be working with Jean-Marc Vallée on his vision of this inspirational and personal story of self-redemption. I can't imagine another actress who could personify the grit and vulnerability of the character... Reese Witherspoon's physical and emotional transformation into Cheryl Strayed will be extraordinary."

The filmmakers are aided by the cooperation of the State of Oregon, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association in safely and responsibly capturing the wild trail experience for film audiences around the world.