It's 'Life as We Know it' for Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl is taking her career in a new direction with "Life As We Know It."

Credit: AP Photo

After making a name for herself in the comedy/romantic comedy genre with "Knocked Up," "27 Dresses" and (hopefully) next month's "The Ugly Truth," Katherine Heigl is shaking things up a bit. 

First, she surprised many by returning to "Grey's Anatomy" after it seemed her character Izzie had bit the big one following a long battle with cancer.  Now, she' taking her movie career in a more dramatic direction with "Life As We Know It." 

Variety reports the Warner Bros. melodrama will find Heigl as one of two unattached adults who become responsible for the orphaned daughter of their mutual best friends who are victims of a tragic accident. The male lead has not yet been cast.

Directing the flick is Greg Berlanti who has made his name as a writer and executive producer of such shows as "Brothers and Sisters," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Everwood." He co-wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Warner Bros. tent pole "Green Lantern" only to loose out on the directing gig to the more established Martin Campbell.  Berlanti instead will live with a lucrative co-producer credit.  This isn't, however, Berlanti's directorial debut.  He helmed the painful "The Broken Hearts Club" almost 10 years ago.  Hopefully, for all our sakes, he's grown as a filmmaker since then.

Heigl is currently shooting the action comedy "Five Killers" alongside Ashton Kutcher for "21's" Robert Luketic. 

It's unclear when "Life" will begin shooting exactly, but one would have to expect it would fit into both Berlanti and Heigl's TV breaks in the spring of 2010.