Blake Lively, Olivia Wilde, others battle for role in David O. Russell's 'The Silver Linings Playbook'

Every so often, a role comes along that every actress seems desperate to land. Recently, there was Lisbeth Salander, the main character in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," (which went to Rooney Mara) and "The Hunger Game's" Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence won the role).

The next "it" role? The female lead in "The Fighter" director David O. Russell's next film "The Silver Linings Playbook." The role is a depressed woman who goes on a sexual spree after her husband dies. This leads her to a man (Mark Wahlberg) who has suffered a mental collapse and is looking to find the silver linings in his life.

THR has a list of the young actresses testing for the role (starting today and going into the weekend). Mara and Lawrence are once again in the mix for a coveted role, while Lawrence's "Hunger Games" co-star Elizabeth Banks is also in the running.

In-demand actress of late Olivia Wilde ("Tron" and "Cowboys & Aliens"), Rachel McAdams, Kirsten Dunst and Andrea Riseborough are also testing.

One contender who may have an advantage? Blake Lively, who worked with Russell when he guest-starred on her CW show "Gossip Girl."