Rebecca Miller, the acclaimed writer-director, has cast Elle Fanning and Julianne Moore in her ninth directorial feature, a biographical film about Margaret Wise Brown, the author behind the beloved children's classic "Goodnight Moon." The project, titled "Moonsong: A Life In Seven Verses," will see Miller both direct and write the screenplay.

Brown remains one of the most influential figures in American children's literature. Published in 1947, "Goodnight Moon," illustrated by Clement Hurd, has sold millions of copies and become a generational touchstone. Brown's prolific career spanned two decades before her death in 1952 at age forty-two. Her body of work includes dozens of picture books that shaped how parents and educators approach early childhood reading.

Miller brings formidable credentials to the project. Her previous films include "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" and "Maggie's Plan," both celebrated for their intelligence and emotional nuance. She has established herself as a filmmaker invested in exploring the interior lives of women, particularly those navigating artistic ambition alongside personal circumstance.

Fanning, known for her work in prestige television like "The Great" and film roles spanning from "Maleficent" to "The Beguiled," takes on the lead role of Brown herself. Moore, an Oscar winner and regular collaborator with ambitious filmmakers, provides seasoned presence in the ensemble. The pairing suggests Miller intends to examine Brown's complexity beyond the saccharine associations her work has accumulated over decades.

The title "Moonsong: A Life In Seven Verses" hints at a poetic, perhaps nonlinear approach to Brown's biography. Miller's interest in capturing the texture of women's lives makes her an ideal match for a subject whose creative output belied a far more turbulent personal existence. Brown struggled with relationships, financial instability, and health challenges even as her books reached millions of young readers worldwide.

The film enters a growing cycle of literary biopics examining overlooked female creators. Where it sits in relation to recent projects about women artists