According to Variety, Emma Watson is currently in talks to co-star in the teen drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on Stephen Chbosky’s popular and undeservedly controversial 1999 novel. Also in talks for the adaptation is Percy Jackson star Logan Lerman.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of an unpopular introvert teen named Charlie, the events of his first year in high school told through narration. Myriad social topics are carefully explored, including sexuality, death, drug use, abuse, and loneliness.

Watson, who has been almost singularly associated with the Harry Potter series since 2001, has taken small steps out of the shadows of all things Hogwarts as lead in the BBC telefilm Ballet Shoes and a voice-acting role in 2008′s The Tale of Despereaux. Followers of the Potter series have had the opportunity to see the three co-leads grow as actors over the last nine years, and I submit that Watson has made some of the stronger strides toward proving she can make a successful move toward long-term success as a lead.

A solid dramatic showing in a well directed and cast film will go a long way in proving this to be the case. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, if given the proper treatment, would be an exceedingly strong vehicle for Emma Watson to prove herself as a bankable star in a busy landscape of talented female actors.