"Westworld" star Evan Rachel Wood is joining Jim Sturgess (her costar in "Across the Universe") and Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima in "One Thousand Paper Cranes."

She'll play author Eleanor Coerr, who wrote "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" about Hiroshima survivor Sadako Sasaki.

The film will tell the true story of Sasaki, who was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. When she's later diagnosed with leukemia, she's inspired by the Japanese legend that if she folds 1,000 paper cranes, she'll be granted her wish to live.

Coerr, an aspiring journalist, learned of the girl's mission and decided to share it with the world. Her 1977 book about Sadako is still a widely read classic.

Visitors from all over the world still bring thousands of paper cranes to the statue honoring Sadako’s legacy in Hiroshima Peace Park. The film will also draw from Takayuki Ishii’s novel "One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children’s Peace Statue."

Richard Raymond (“Desert Dancer”) will direct from Ben Bolea’s script.

Raymond said Sasaki’s story is a relevant as ever: "It’s a story that was amplified and became a phenomenon because of the author, Eleanor Coerr. This film shows for the first time the untold truth behind these two remarkable women, and how their lives are intricately connected. I’m honored by the trust Eleanor’s family and the Hiroshima Film Council have bestowed upon me to tell this story."

Shooting on “One Thousand Paper Cranes” will begin later this year.

Terajima was awarded Best Actress at Berlinale in 2010 for her role in the film "Caterpillar." Her other films include 2018's "Oh Lucy!" with Josh Hartnett.

Wood is currently filming "Frozen 2."

Sturgess's most recent projects include "Berlin, I Love You" and the Hulu series "Hard Sun."

[Via Variety]