Say what you like about Justin Timberlake, the man is serious about his acting. The former boy-bander started to gain grudging respect of film fans with small turns in films like "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan," before winning over many thanks to his supporting role in David Fincher's "The Social Network." Now, despite star vehicle "In Time" failing to convert at the box office, he's pretty firmly cemented as an actor, rather than a musician pursuing vanity projects; he was winning and funny in "Friends With Benefits" and "Bad Teacher," even if the films weren't, Warren Beatty considered him for the lead in his Howard Hughes film, and he's not released a record in nearly six years (although he guested on a couple back in 2010).
Next up, he's going to cement his indie cred by starring with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan in "Inside Llewyn Davis," the latest from the Coen Brothers, but first, he's going to be squeezing in some work with another cinematic icon, as Variety reports Timberlake is in talks to join Clint Eastwood in the great star's return to the screen in "Trouble With The Curve."
The film, penned by newcomer Randy Brown, and directed by Eastwood's long-time producer Robert Lorenz, stars the veteran actor as a baseball scout, losing his eyesight, who heads to Georgia with his daughter (to be played by Amy Adams) in the hope of signing one last hotshot. That's right, it's "Moneyball" meets "Scent Of A Woman"! Or something.
Assuming talks come off, Timberlake will play Johnny Flanagan, a former player who's now a New York Yankees scout, and develops into a love interest for Adams' character, while Matthew Lillard and newcomer Joe Massingill are also in the cast. It's unclear whether the actor will shoot this before "Inside Llewyn Davis," but seeing that Warner Bros set the Eastwood project for a September 28th release date yesterday, we imagine that'll be the case.