Seyfried to star in romance 'Dear John'

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Amanda Seyfried reportedly is to star in "Dear John," Lasse Hallstrom's big-screen adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's novel with the same name.

Seyfried can now be seen in the hit movie musical "Mamma Mia!" She has also co-starred in the film "Mean Girls," had a recurring role on the former television series "Veronica Mars" and has steady work on the current small-screen drama "Big Love."

Variety.com reported that Seyfried will play a young woman who meets and falls in love with a soldier while he is on leave in "Dear John." Channing Tatum from "Step," "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," "Stop-Loss" and the forthcoming "Battle in Seattle," is to co-star.

Hallstrom, who has previously helmed "Casanova," "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat," is expected to start shooting "Dear John" in South Carolina next month, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

Sparks also penned the love stories "The Notebook," "Message in a Bottle" and "A Walk To Remember," all of which have been made into popular movies.