Hathaway and Sturgess are ‘One Day’ Closer to Working with Lone Scherfig

The Random House Films/Focus Features partnership got off to a shaky start when they released Reservation Road. The John Burnham Schwartz novel was either a poor choice for a first venture or it was one more reason why someone too close to the material shouldn’t adapt their own novel. I think I saw this at TIFF a couple of years back, even the stellar cast couldn’t save the project. It made a paltry 100 grand at the box office. After carefully selecting their next project, Focus have then secured Lone Scherfig and now the first piece of casting news certainly gives wings to the project. THR reports that Focus is potentially tying down Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess for what is described as When Harry Met Sally (I wonder how many pitching sessions in the past two decades use that exact title?)

Hathaway and Sturgess would essentially work with a best friend becomes something more premise. Based on a novel by British author David Nicholls, One Day revolves around Dexter and Emma, who meet for the first time during their graduation in 1988 and proceed to meet one day a year for the next 20 years. The story tracks their lives and loves until they realize they were meant for each other.

Color Force’s Nina Jacobson whose first producing credit comes in the form of another book to film project (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) will produce. Scherfig is coming off a great 2009, collecting accolades for An Education. Hathaway might have a solid 2010 in store, with the upcoming release of Love and Other Drugs.