Twilight star Kristen Stewart has landed the lead role in Lie Down in Darkness, an adaptation of William Styron's novel directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart).

The actress will play Peyton Loftis, a young woman at the center of a dysfunctional family in 1950s Virginia. Peyton's beauty has caused her mother to become jealous and hateful towards her, while the woman's alcoholic father lusts after her. She also has a crippled sister named Maudie. It is said that the production was eyeing Jennifer Lawrence, although she will be busy shooting The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and X-Men: Days of Future Past back-to-back.

The project has been in development for years under producer Jeff Sharp (A Home at the End of the World, Proof). It isn't known if a screenwriter is attached to adapt the novel, or when production may begin.