Dana Harris
The Hollywood Reporter

RKO's independent film arm, Radio Pictures, and Melissa Joan Hart's Hartbreak Films have teamed to remake the classic film "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer," with Hart to star and produce.

The project will be a contemporary update of the 1947 RKO romantic comedy that starred Cary Grant and Shirley Temple in the story of a playboy who, after a run-in with the law, is sentenced to spend time with the judge's younger sister _ a high school girl who has an obsessive crush on him.

"Melissa is an incredibly gifted young actress with the kind of poise and energy that makes her perfect for this role," RKO Pictures CEO/chairman Ted Hartley said. "The film will take a contemporary look at teen angst, which we believe is right in tune with today's moviegoing audiences."

RKO's Radio Pictures has co-production deals with Fine Line Features and Dimension Films, among other major distributors, and has numerous remake projects under way including "The Locked Room," which will be directed by Alexander Payne, and "The Seventh Victim," to be helmed by Brad Anderson.

"Melissa has been a Shirley Temple fan all her life, and we both love this movie," said Hartbreak Films president Paula Hart, who will also produce the film and serves as executive producer on her daughter's ABC series, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

Melissa Joan Hart recently starred in "Drive Me Crazy" for TCF. She also had roles in "The Specials" and "Running With Scissors."

The "Bachelor" deal was negotiated by Art Horan, executive vp of RKO Pictures, and Richard Hofstetter and Jacqueline Eckhouse of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz for Hartbreak. Hart and Hartbreak Films are represented by UTA.