Following her break-out role in the horror hit “It Follows,” Maika Monroe is quickly building on that success by landing a role alongside Liam Neeson.

Sources tell Variety Monroe is in negotiations to join Neeson in Watergate thriller “Felt.” Jason Bateman and Diane Lane are also on board with “Concussion” helmer Peter Landesman directing the pic.

“Felt” is based on a script by Landesman, who will also produce. MadRiver Pictures will finance and produce, alongside Scott Free Productions, Playtone and Cara Films. Ridley Scott, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Giannina Scott, Marc Butan, Christopher Woodrow and Jay Roach will produce. Steven Shareshian and Michael Schaefer will executive produce alongside Michael Bassick and Steven Marshall.

Principal photography is set to begin in March 2016; the filmmakers are in discussion with additional cast.

The pic is a spy thriller, centering on “Deep Throat,” the pseudonym given to the notorious whistleblower for one of the greatest scandals of all time, Watergate. The true identity of the secret informant remained a mystery and source of much public curiosity and speculation for more than 30 years. That is until, in 2005, special agent Mark Felt revealed himself as the tipster.

“It Follows” became both a cult hit and critical darling leading to many execs eyeing Monroe for more leading lady rolls, eventually landing the young thesp the female lead in “Independence Day: Resurgence.” Monroe also has the YA pic “The 5th Wave” bowing next year. She’ll shoot “The Tribes of Palos Verdes” opposite Jennifer Garner in early 2016.

Maika Monroe has spent a lot of time running for her life. Last year, in the thriller “The Guest,” she played a girl who must flee from the strange and dangerous man (Dan Stevens) staying with her family. In the horror movie “It Follows,” opening March 13, she’s stalked by an evil force in human form that will kill her if it catches her. The only way to break the curse is to have sex with someone and pass it on.

Both roles, in films that tease the conventions of their genres, made for exciting performances from Ms. Monroe, 21, who’s becoming something of a millennial scream queen. They also made for a number of breathless takes, as her characters spend lots of screen time racing down dark streets, hallways and mazes.

Ms. Monroe, who grew up in Santa Barbara, Calif., took an unconventional path into acting. She began as a dancer, and after appearing as a movie extra and in commercials, she moved to the Dominican Republic to train as a professional kiteboarder. But soon she was offered a part in the Zac Efron movie “At Any Price.” “It didn’t even take me a second to decide what I wanted to do,” she said by phone from Los Angeles. “I was gone in the snap of a finger.” These are excerpts from the interview.

Q. What were your initial thoughts on “It Follows?”

A. I was sent the script when I was filming “The Guest,” and it was one of the weirdest scripts I’ve ever read. I didn’t know how it was going to translate into a movie. But I did some research on the director [David Robert Mitchell] and looked at his previous film, “The Myth of the American Sleepover,” and there was just something so bizarre and different about his style. So I thought if you take that feel and throw it into the horror genre, it would be interesting.

More physical exertion?

Maybe I should have been thinking, I’m going to be running and screaming for my life again. I’d never thought of horror as being so challenging, but it is.

Are you a fan of horror?

As a kid growing up, I loved watching horror movies. I loved scaring myself. But I feel like recently, a lot of horror movies are made just to be made. They’re loud and boring and in-your-face. But these scripts came along with such unique voices.

Was it difficult to shoot the sex scenes in the new movie?

I don’t know if difficult is the right word. It’s just awkward. I mean, there’s nothing romantic about it.

Do you think these movies will brand you as a horror girl?

Surprisingly, I don’t feel like I’ve been categorized. The people that are watching these films aren’t just horror fans. I start filming a movie called “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” which is kind of a darker drama about a dysfunctional family. And I have a young adult novel adaptation called “The 5th Wave” coming out.

So you’re being offered more traditional teen roles, too?

Yeah, and a lot of them I have no interest in playing. Cheerleader roles are really not my thing. I want things that are weird or not typical. I think a superhero would be awesome to play.

Are you open to more movies where you’re running and screaming?

If it’s something that is worth it to me, hell yeah.

It Follows star Maika Monroe talks beautiful horror movies, Chloë Grace Moretz – and getting into the dark zone. It Follows is being hailed as an instant horror classic but I hated it because I really don’t like being scared. Good, I like to hear that.

What is the ‘it’ of the title?

I don’t even know what it is. The writer/director David Robert Mitchell told me the idea comes from his nightmare. As a kid he had this constant dream of this thing following him. Sometimes it would be someone he recognised – a friend or family member – or people he didn’t know at all. They would follow him and you could run away but it would always be there.

Since I saw the film sometimes I think people are following me.

Yip, that tends to happen after you watch it. But I guess I’m only imagining it. You don’t know…

Is it more frightening that we never know who or what this relentless, ever-changing thing is and why it wants to catch and kill you?

It moves slowly so you have time to think about what’s happening. That’s the worst. The film has this dreamlike, hazy feel and it’s very elegant and simple. Where most horror movies are so loud and in your face with blood and guts, there is something quite beautiful about it in a terrifying way.

Can you still find a film terrifying if you star in it?

No, not really. It’s hard for me to watch and be able to enjoy it, which is kind of a bummer. I’m just painfully watching myself, thinking this was the most intense five weeks of my life.

Was it so bad?

The character goes to hell and back. Jay is a typical teenager, then she’s thrown into this insane situation and you watch her deal with it and come out a hero. Filming it, I’d always have my headset on with my music playing. I’d be in my own world to stay in that dark zone, since that’s where most of the movie takes place.

What’s on your dark zone playlist?

I was trying to think. I think I blacked out the process of making the movie. I’ve no idea, just some really dark, depressing music.

Radiohead?

There you go.

You used to be a professional kiteboarder. Is that something more of us should take up?

It’s an up-and-coming sport. If you want adrenaline in a somewhat easy way, all ages can do it. There are people in their 70s and kids who are 12 kiting, my dad’s kiteboarding and he’s almost 60. You can learn tricks where you’re jumping 30 feet in the air or you can just be riding on a surfboard.

I have trouble just flying a kite so…

That’s a bad start.

Speaking of waves, you’ll be in the adaptation of The Fifth Wave, with Chloë Grace Moretz.

I just wrapped on that. It’s a really popular young adult novel. It’s pretty cool bringing a character from a book to life – I mean it’s a little stressful because you feel pressure from fans – but it’s exciting and it’s such a fun role. Who doesn’t want to play the kickass girl who’s better than all the dudes?

Your character Ringer is a weapons expert, so handy if anything starts following you again.

Exactly, so be scared. I’ll whip out my M4. I’m ready.

We have added x1,500+ screencaps of Maika being interviewed at various movie junkets …