James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez are zeroing in on their female actor to star in Alita: Battle Angel, Fox’s ambitious adaptation of the popular manga graphic novels.

Rodriguez is on board to direct what is envisioned as a big-budget tentpole, while Cameron and his Lightstorm Entertainment partner Jon Landau are producing.

The movie has not been greenlighted as budgetary issues are still being worked out while the studio seeks to bring it down from the $175 million-$200 million range.

The following trio tested for the film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned: Maika Monroe, who starred in It Follows and will appear in this summer's Independence Day: Resurgence; Rosa Salazar, who appeared in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and recently wrapped shooting Warner Bros.’ big-screen take of CHiPs; and Zendaya, the Disney Channel star of K.C. Undercover who is one of the female leads of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Bella Thorne, who starred with Zendaya on the TV series Shake It Up and appeared in Alvin & the Chipmunks: Road Chip, also tested, say sources.

Sources say that Cameron and Rodriguez want to create a star-making vehicle akin to Cameron’s Dark Angel, the TV series that ran from 2000 to 2002 and became a platform for Jessica Alba. Sources also say that Zendaya could be the frontrunner for the role, but that scheduling issues with her hit TV show present a stumbling block.

Alita: Battle Angel tells of a female cyborg that is discovered in a scrapyard by a scientist. With no memory of her previous life except her deadly martial-arts training, the woman becomes a bounty hunter, tracking down criminals. The action-adventure story is meant to serve as a backdrop to themes of self-discovery and the search for love.

A decision on the actresses is expected in the coming weeks.

MAY 27, 2016 11:52am PT by Borys Kit , Mia Galuppo
'Scorch Trials' Actress to Star in James Cameron's 'Battle Angel' Movie

James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez have found their Angel.

Rosa Salazar has nabbed the lead for the adaptation of the popular Japanese manga Battle Angel Alita, where she will star as the amnesiac female cyborg who is rescued from a scrapyard and put back together without a memory of her past life but, awesomely, with an advanced knowledge of marital arts. Set in the 26th century, Alita becomes a bounty hunter, tracking down criminals.

The Fox film, titled Alita: Battle Angel, was originally going to be directed by Cameron, but due to his prodigious Avatar shooting schedule, directorial duties were handed off the genre filmmaker Rodriguez. Cameron will stay on the project as a producer.

Last month, THR reported that Cameron and Rodriguez was narrowing down its list, with It Follows breakout star Maika Monroe, Bella Thorne as well as Salazar testing for the part. Disney Channel star Zendaya was also in the mix early on but had scheduling conflicts.

The production, which has yet to select a start date, will have a budget in the $175 million-$200 million range.

Battle Angel is a major coup for the rising Salazar, who is also no stranger to action-adventures. The actress, repepd by Paradigm and Nelson Davis, worked on shorts and appeared in television before appearing in the YA Divergent franchise film Insurgent. Her highest profile gig so far has been a key role opposite Dylan O'Brien in the Maze Runner film Scorch Trials. She is also set to appear in Dax Shepard's adaptation of the 70s TV show CHiPs.

Salazar's get was first reported by Collider.