Meyer’s Fickle Fish, the production company the Twilight author runs with Meghan Hibbett, is financing the feature directorial debut of Jerusha Hess, who co-wrote Napoleon Dynamite with her husband Jared Hess.

Keri Russell will star in Austenland, set to begin principal photography on Jul 8 in the UK. The story is based on Shannon Hale’s novel about a contemporary woman obsessed with Mr Darcy as portrayed by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice.

Things heat up when the woman takes a trip to an English resort catering to women who are likewise consumed by the notion of Regency-era gentlemen.

The cast includes J J Field, Bret Mckenzie, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour, Rupert Vansittart and James Callis. UTA is handling worldwide sales rights.

Meyer is producing alongside Moxie Pictures’ Gina Mingacci. Moxie’s Robert Fernandez and Dan Levinson of Moxie Pictures serve as executive producers.