Variety reports that actors Maria Bello, Abigail Breslin and Samuel L. Jackson have signed on for indie drama Rape: A Love Story.

Domestic Disturbance director Harold Becker will helm with Michael Mendelsohn producing and financing through his Patriot Pictures banner.

Rape: A Love Story is based on a 2003 Joyce Carol Oates novella that centers on a mother (Bello) who is recovering from a brutal gang rape and is stalked by the perpetrators when a sympathetic cop (Jackson) comes to her rescue. Breslin will play the woman’s 12-year-old daughter who witnesses the attack.

John Mankiewicz, a writer and co-executive producer for hit TV drama “House M.D.”, adapted the screenplay.

Bello, who recently starred in summer film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, recently wrapped indie dramatic comedy The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin just signed on to co-star opposite Johnny Depp in Gore Verbinski’s animated adventure Rango for Paramount Pictures. She will also provide the voice for the cartoon The Wild Bunch as well as co-star in horror comedy Zombieland alongside Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone.

Last week, Jackson signed on to play the role of Nick Fury in nine Marvel films, including the upcoming Iron Man 2.

Production on Rape: A Love Story is set to start in June 2009.

By Tessa Petrocco (Source: Variety)