Emmy Rossum Accepts “Dare” to go Indie

Wide-eyed, singing cinematic darling Emmy Rossum is taking a leap into indie film after roles in blockbuster after blockbuster, all at the ripe old age of 21.  According to Variety, The Phantom of the Opera star has signed on to join the cast of Dare, an independent feature directed by newcomer Adam Salky.   The pic is based off of Salky’s short of the same name, which made some noise in the festival circuit in 2005 when the helmer was in the Columbia MFA film program with the short’s screenwriter, David Brind, who is also penning the feature.

The pic tells the story of high school senior Ben, a social outcast who secretly lusts after Johnny, a so-called hotshot around school.  After Ben gives Johnny a ride home, one thing leads to another and things are revealed to be not quite how they appear (read: things get a little hot and heavy).  Rossum will be playing Alexa, a fellow privileged high school senior.

Also signed on to join the cast are Sandra Bernhardt, Alan Cumming and Ana Gasteyer.  Veteran Mary Jane Skalski (Mysterious Skin, The Station Agent) is producing the pic.

Rossum will appear in Dragonball with Chow Yun-Fat, directed by James Wong, to be released in April of next year.  Based on the comic by Akira Toriyama (of which the insanely popular Japanese animation series Dragon Ball Z is also based off of), the pic tells the story of a boy named Goku on a journey to find the seven “Dragon Balls,” therefore preventing the evil Lord Piccolo from taking over the world. Rossum’s character, Bulma, is seeking the Dragon Balls in order to wish for a perfect boyfriend.