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The Descendants star will take the lead role in White Bird, reports Variety.
Woodley will star as a young woman who must face the mysterious disappearance of her mother.
Now that a lead has been found, Araki will begin casting the supporting roles, including the missing mother, the girl's father and a police detective investigating the case.
Independent filmmaker Araki is best known for the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-starring Mysterious Skin. His most recent feature film was Kaboom, which featured Juno Temple and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star Thomas Dekker.
The director is also developing police thriller The Womb.
A date for White Bird to start shooting is yet to be announced.
Watch Shailene Woodley talking to Digital Spy about The Descendants below:
