Kristen Stewart playing Joan Jett

Kristen Stewart, who is currently starring in Twilight, will play Joan Jett in The Runaways, a biopic of the 1970s all-girl band.

The Hollywood Reporter has it that music video helmer Floria Sigismondi is set to direct the pic from her script.

For those now saying “Joan who?” a quick briefing: The Runaways were a hugely influential band, the first successful all-girl rock group.

Novelty act beginnings

Impresario Kim Fowley who figured that a leather and lace-draped girl band would prove to be the perfect novelty act formed the group.

But unlike more recent efforts such as Girls Aloud, the Runaways developed into serious musicians, lasting four years before splitting over money and management issues.

Stewart’s Jett will be one of the focuses of the flick, since she and Cheri Currie were two of the leading lights.

Sigismondi apparently plans to work around Stewart’s newly ongoing Twilight movie schedule – she’ll be busy with New Moon next year.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter ]