Tom McCarthy to shine 'Spotlight' on Selena Gomez series

Oscar nominee Tom Mccarthy has signed on to direct Selena Gomez's new Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

The Come & Get It singer/actress and her mother, Mandy Teefey, snapped up the screen rights to Jay Asher's beloved 2007 novel last year (15), and it has since been optioned by bosses at streaming service Netflix.

Now Selena has scored a huge coup by landing McCarthy to take charge of the first two episodes of the mini-series, about a boy named Clay Jensen, who discovers cassette tapes recorded by his dead school crush. On the tapes, she details the 13 reasons why she decided to end her life.

The 49-year-old actor-turned-director, who is up for two Academy Awards for Spotlight on Sunday (28Feb16), will also serve as executive producer of the 13-episode project, alongside Selena and her mom, reports Deadline.com.

"SO excited!" Selena exclaimed on Twitter as she shared the news with fans. "Tom is going to bring this to life in a unbelievable way".

She added, "good luck at the oscars!"

It is not yet known if Selena will also star in 13 Reasons Why.

Spotlight details the Boston Globe's 2002 expose on the child molestation scandal which rocked the Catholic church in Boston, Massachusetts. The critically-acclaimed film is nominated for six Oscars at this weekend's ceremony, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay nods for McCarthy.