Gurinder Chadha has had an interesting career since she drew attention with 2002’s Bend it Like Beckham, a movie that remains one of my favorite sappy comedies. Since then she went Bollywood with Bride & Prejudice and for a short time was rumored to be heading up the movie adaptation of prime-time soap Dallas, but that’s about it.

Now Chadha’s working on something a little more tangible than the Ewing clan’s endeavor, and something a little closer to her Beckham/Bride roots. She’ll be starting production on an adaptation of Angus, Thongs, & Full-Frontal Snogging based on the acclaimed book by Louise Rennison. The coming of age story focuses on teenager Georgia Nicholson who has two goals to meet as part of surviving teenage life: get a boyfriend who is a gorgeous “sex-god” and throw the greatest 15th birthday party ever known. As with all teenagers, Georgia is convinced her parents don’t understand her, so she takes solace with her close friends, the Ace Gang, and her cat Angus.

Chadha is working with Nickelodeon Films on the production, which will film in various England locations and star Georgia Groome (London to Brighton) according to Dark Horizons. The site also features a quote from Chadha which explains her interest in the project, comparing Georgia Nicholson to a teenage Bridget Jones, but with more attitude.

While I’m not exactly jumping up and running out to see a teenage life comedy, I think this story could be in good hands with Chadha heading up the film. I think she’s the right director to handle a character of this complexity and it’s certainly a better career move than directing John Travolta in a cowboy hat.