Hall of Fame director Axel Braun is shooting his first feature in 15 years and he’s tapped Avi Love as the lead.

Braun will soon start shooting The Possession of Mrs. Hyde for Wicked Pictures, his first since the award-winning Compulsion in 2003. This will be the biggest movie of Best New Starlet nominee Avi Love’s young career.

“Her audition was just phenomenal,” Axel said.“This is a movie I’ve been wanting to make for a really long time, and never pulled the trigger because I couldn’t find the right girl for the leadand believe me when I say that over the past 15 years I must have auditioned a couple hundred girls. None of them could pull it off. It’s a very complex role that requires a specific look and a lot of range. Avi has both.”

Naturally, Avi is thrilled by the role and has called winning the lead “a great honor.”

“Who knew Axel was looking for me all this time?!” she said. “It’s an incredible opportunity and I am wildly excited about this project. It’s a great honor to have the lead in this important movie and can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

Braun says he doubts he would have shot this movie this year if he hadn’t come across Avi, saying, “She made this happen.”

“On the first day of shooting, right off the bat, Avi blew me away,” he said.“Her first dialogue scene gave everybody on set goosebumps. People are gonna go ‘Holy shit! where did that come from?”