Reese Witherspoon to Produce and Star in Children’s Book Adaptation PENNYROYAL’S PRINCESS BOOT CAMP

Reese Witherspoon and her newly formed production banner Pacific Standard have acquired the rights to the children’s book series Pennyroyal’s Princess Boot Camp. The upcoming two-book series is described as a modern-day fairy tale “about a school that shapes girls into warrior princesses to battle against an ever-growing terror of wicked witches.” Witherspoon will produce the project with Bruna Papandreas, and is also attached to take a supporting role in the feature film. The books come from author M.A. Larson who worked as an assistant to director Mike Nichols before working as a staff writer on Cartoon Network, Disney XD, Nickelodeon and Discovery Kids. Hit the jump for more.

Per Heat Vision, Witherspoon hails the portrayal of strong female characters, adding that the princesses are “independent and fierce and the knights are their match.” The story sounds like a fun universe for kids to invest in, and it’s nice to hear that some powerful female role models are on the way for young girls. It’s worth noting that Witherspoon was previously set to voice the princess protagonist in Pixar’s Brave before Kelly Macdonald took over the character.

The Oscar winning actress previously produced the 2006 fable Penelope, but one assumes Pennyroyal’s Princess Boot Camp is the first in a string of many producing projects to come now that Pacific Standard is up and running. Witherspoon has quite a few high profile projects on the horizon, including Big Eyes opposite Ryan Reynolds, the West Memphis Three story Devil’s Knot with Colin Firth, and Glee creator Ryan Murphy’s musical One Hit Wonders with Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Andy Samberg.