Movie Casting News: Keira Knightley to star in Nicholas Sparks film adaptation 'Safe Haven'?

Twitch reports that Keira Knightley is in early talks to star in Lasse Hallström‘s adaptation of Nicholas Sparks‘ novel Safe Haven.  Keira, if cast would be playing a young woman with a dark past who arrives in a small North Carolina town, and reluctantly begins a relationship with a widowed store owner and his two children, and a friendship with her plainspoken neighbor. 

Hallström plans to start shooting Safe Haven in May.  Safe Haven is Hallström’s second time working from a Sparks novel having previously directed 2010′s Dear John (starring The Vow's Channing Tatum).

Hmm, I don't know if Keira would do this (then, again, she did Seeking A Friend... with Steve Carell...so who knows?), but I think this would be interesting and kind of different for KK, if she does take the lead role in this film. I love Nicholas Sparks movies esp. The Notebook (Rachel McAdams) and A Walk To Remember (Mandy Moore). We shall see...What do you all think?

Keira will next be seen this summer (June 22nd) in the apocalyptic romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (with Steve Carell) and this fall (November 9th) in Joe Wright's film adaptation of Anna Karenina (with Matthew Macfadyen). Safe Haven is due out on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Here’s the synopsis for Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven:

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven. [Amazon]