Once again, I’m late to the party on an actress in an Academy recognized movie because I’ve only just started picking up Lily Collins on my radar since she was cast in ‘Mirror Mirror’.  Now it looks like young Collins (who is actually my age) will be taking on the lead role in the film adaptation of the first book of Cassandra Clare’s young adult sci-fi fantasy series ‘The Mortal Instruments’.

According to Coming Soon, Collins will play Clary Fray, a New York City teen who possesses the powers of Shadowhunters, a secret class of half-angel warriors that protects our world from demons. After a man named Valentine kidnaps her mother, she teams up with Shadowhunters to find a powerful tool known as the Mortal Cup and save her mother from peril.

Harald Zwart, who helmed family fodder ‘Agent Cody Banks’ and ‘The Pink Panther 2’, will direct the film. He also directed the 2010 remake of the 80s classic ‘The Karate Kid’ starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Writing the script will be Jessica Postigo and I. Marlene King.

On the subject of the director and the leading lady, producer Robert Kulzer of Constantin Film says:

“Lily Collins is the perfect Clary. Harald Zwart really understands the visuals and heart of ‘The Mortal Instruments.’ That was crucial to us. Of course, having Cassandra Clare’s support throughout and collaborating with her on this project has been especially rewarding.”

Principal photography for ‘Mortal Instruments’ is set to begin on August 15th in Toronto.