Nearly four years after producer McG optioned the book in 2010, his adaptation of The D.U.F.F. is moving forward, with Mae Whitman in talks to star.

The project is based on Kody Keplinger's book, which follows a 17-year-old girl (Mae Whitman) who must deal with the stigma of becoming the Designated Ugly Fat Friend (The D.U.F.F.) in her group of friends. She teams up with other D.U.F.F.'s to take down their school's nefarious leader, Madison.

Ari Sandel, who won an Oscar in 2006 for his short film West Bank Story, is directing from a script by Josh A. Cagan (Bandslam). McG is producing through his Wonderland Sound and Vision company, alongside Mary Viola and Lane Shefter Bishop. Production is scheduled to begin this summer in Atlanta.

Mae Whitman currently stars on the NBC drama series Parenthood, and she also lends her voice to the animated films The Wind Rises and The Pirate Fairy.