Halifax actress Ellen Page, currently earning critical kudos for her role as a spunky pregnant teen in “Juno,” will star in Drew Barrymore’s directing debut.

The film is called “Whip It” and will be based on the book “Derby Girl” by Shauna Cross, according to Variety.

Page, 20, will play a teen who rejects her family’s expectations that she participate in beauty contests and instead enters the world of roller derby.

“I can’t wait to kick ass on wheels!” she said in a statement.

Barrymore, who recently starred in “Lucky You,” “Music and Lyrics” and “Fever Pitch,” has a $10 million US budget to work with.

“I’ve been working toward the goal of directing my entire life,” Barrymore said. “‘Whip It!’ is a story that really spoke to me.”

The movie will start shooting this summer in Texas.






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