Jennifer Lopez will play a cougar in ‘The Boy Next Door’

Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez will bring the star power to producer Jason Blum’s new micro-budget thriller, playing a cougar mom in The Boy Next Door. Blum is known for making big bucks by producing star-powered low budget films such as The Purge and Paranormal Activity. The Purge, starring Ethan Hawke (Training Day, The Getaway), was made for $3 million and has grossed over $85 million so far. The Boy Next Door is being produced for about the same, including Lopez’s salary. It will be helmed by Fast and Furious director Rob Cohen from a script by Talk Of The Town scribe, Barbara Curry.

Lopez will play a newly separated mother who seduces one of her sons teenage friends. The trouble begins when she realizes she’s made a mistake and abruptly ends the affair.

Blum is producing with Smart Entertainment’s John Jacobs along with Elaine-Goldsmith Thomas from Lopez’s production banner Nuyorican. Benny Medina will executive produce. Shooting will start in the fall before Lopez begins her celebrity judging duties on Season 13 of American Idol.

Blum’s Insidious: Chapter 2 will be released this Friday, the 13th.