Dakota Fanning, Ryan Donowho run ‘Wild’

Indie thriller set for production March 21

Dakota Fanning and Ryan Donowho will star in the indie thriller “Mississippi Wild.”

Robert Duvall, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker are also in talks to join the cast.

Jesse Baget will write and direct, with Shannon Makhanian and Ryan R. Johnson producing; Todd Slater exec produces along with Chris Gonzalez and Patrick F. Gallagher.

Story follows a teen, to be played by Donowho, who has to go on the run with his girlfriend after stealing diamonds that belong to a local gangster. Fanning will play the g.f., and Rourke is being eyed for the gangster role.

Whitaker would play another gangster who is chasing after Rourke’s character.

Production is set to begin March 21 in Atlanta.

The busy Fanning also has signed to star alongside Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff in “The Motel Life.” Alan and Gabe Polsky will produce and direct that pic through their Polsky Films banner, with Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster scripting.

Fanning will shoot “Motel Life” in February and then jump into production on “Mississippi Wild.”

Donowho next stars in “Rites of Passage,” and Whitaker can currently be seen on CBS’ “Criminal Minds” spinoff “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.”

Rourke, last seen in “Passion Play” and “The Expendables,” will next star in Relativity Media’s “Immortals,” while Duvall recently starred in “Get Low.”

Duvall and Rourke are repped by ICM, while WME reps Whitaker.

Fanning is repped by the Osbrink Agency and One Talent Management. Donowho is repped by UTA and Brookside Artist Management. Baget is repped by Zero Gravity Management.