Anne Hathaway in Talks to Replace Amy Schumer in live action 'Barbie' Movie 

Anne Hathaway in Talks to Replace Amy Schumer in 'Barbie' Movie

Alethea Jones is circling as director of the feature project based on the Mattel toy line.

Anne Hathaway is getting behind the wheel of the pink dream convertible for Sony's

The Oscar winner is in negotiations to star in the long-in-the-works feature project, putting on the outfit that was originally going to be worn by Amy Schumer. (Schumer was 

announced to star in December, but dropped out in March, citing "scheduling conflicts.")

At the same time, rising Australian director Alethea Jones is in talks to helm the pic after being handpicked by Hathaway, who was integral in the search for a filmmaker.

movie (at least, the Schumer version) was to turn the classic Barbie mythology on its head, putting a contemporary spin on the toy with an emphasis on feminism and identity. The script told of a woman that slowly awakens to the fact that she doesn’t fit into the perfect land of Barbies and journeys to the real world, where she discovers that being unique is an asset. The fish-out-of-water tale is supposed to be in the vein of

Amy Pascal, Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are producing. RIchard Dickson, president and COO of Mattel, is executive producing.  

The studio is still eyeing a June 29, 2018, release, but one issue that is keeping things in flux is Hathaway's schedule. Sony is hesitant to move the release date, and there's a chance that if Hathaway's schedule isn't worked out in a satisfactory way, a deal may not be made.

and will next be seen palling around with Rihanna and Sarah Paulson in

an R-rated ensemble comedy that starred Toni Collette and Molly Shannon. She made her American television debut with Amazon’s

and cut her teeth making shorts in her native land. She is repped by Paradigm. 

The casting news was first reported by entertainment newsletter The Ankler.

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