The Insider.com

They're two of the biggest stars in young Hollywood, not to mention the female faces of two of the most successful franchises in recent memory, so it's no surprise that the media constantly inundates us with made-up stories of Jennifer Lawrence and Kristen Stewart catfights.

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But this time their battle is actually legit -- only it's more of a competitive one, rather than of the personal kind.

Pics: Kristen and Jennifer's Chain-Linked Buns

Jennifer and Kristen are both admittedly desperate for a role in director Scott Cooper's upcoming film Lie Down in Darkness, based on the 1951 novel by William Styron, in which they would play Peyton Loftis -- a spoiled, beautiful, all-around messed-up girl with some serious daddy issues.

In other words, a game-changing role that would cement them as Serious Actresses (and possible Oscar contenders) as opposed to just franchise faces. And both women are making their campaign for the role a very public one.

"I am obsessed with that part. I have this feeling of protectiveness over characters I want to play ... If someone else gets the part, I'm afraid they won't do it right," Jennifer recently told W. "I'm trying to write the director ... to convince him that I should be in his movie. I'll chase him if I have to. I'll sit outside his house."

Related: 5 Thing You Don't Know About Jennifer Lawrence

For her part, Stewart told the June issue of Elle: "I want to play Peyton more than anything I can possible taste or touch in my life. I want to play her so bad."

Related: K Stew Calls R Patz Her 'F*cking Boyfriend'

So who has the edge? While both women seem to have the chops to go extra dark, Jennifer Lawrence does have the more respected Winter's Bone/Hunger Games edge, while Kristen is now more known for big box office roles boosted by her celebrity status (i.e. Snow White and the Huntsman).

… though she has been getting rave reviews at Cannes for her On The Road performance opposite Garrett Hedlund, and her love for indie films is no secret.

Guess only time will tell which A-list lady Cooper will decide on, though he could just throw a wrench in both of their Oscar plans by going with a much less high-profile actress, a la David Fincher in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

In that case, who will be the next Rooney Mara?