'Juno's Diablo Cody to make directorial debut

Juno writer Diablo Cody is to make her directorial debut with the self-penned project Lamb of God.

The Academy Award winner's screenplay centres on the personal journey of a woman who rejects her faith after a plane crash, only to slowly rediscover it while partying in Las Vegas.

Cody will again team up with Mandate Pictures, which also financed Juno and Young Adult.

Nathan Kahane, president of the studio, said: "Having been in the trenches with Diablo and Mason on Juno and Young Adult, we immediately jumped at the opportunity to partner with them again.

"It's an honour to be a part of Diablo's transition as a director."

Cody is currently attached to several projects, including the big-screen adaptation of the teenage novel series Sweet Valley High.

She recently admitted that she felt "pretty dejected" by the decision to axe her television series United States of Tara and partly blamed the collaborative writing process for the series' failure.

The Jennifer's Body screenwriter said: "If I did something again [for television], I think I'd want to take total ownership the way Aaron Sorkin or David Kelley does."

Fox has reportedly picked up another pilot for a new comedy series from Cody.