JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - TIMBERLAKE TO WALK OPEN ROAD

TIMBERLAKE TO WALK OPEN ROAD

Justin Timberlake's burgeoning acting career is to continue with a starring role in upcoming drama The Open Road.

The FutureSex star is to appear alongside Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen in Michael Meredith's film, set to begin shooting in Louisiana later this month according to Variety.

Written and directed by Meredith, the independent film tells of a young man (Timberlake) heading home to reconnect with his legendary athlete father (Bridges) and to tend to his ailing mother (Steenburgen).

Brokeback Mountain actress Kate Mara is to play Timberlake's girlfriend in the film, which will be produced by Meredith, Justin Moore-Lewy, Charles Mason, David Schiff, Jordan Foley and Laurie Fox.

Acclaimed German director Wim Wenders has been confirmed as a visual consultant on the film, aiding cinematographer Yaron Orbach.

The movie will also be Meredith's directorial debut, having co-written Wenders' 2004 drama Land of Plenty.

Timberlake has already appeared in Southland Tales and Black Snake Moan and earned critical acclaim for his supporting role in Alpha Dog.

He will be starring as athlete Jacques Grande in Mike Myers' upcoming comedy The Love Guru.

Timberlake's character steals the wife of rival hockey player Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) with the latter then moved to hire the eponymous svengali (Myers) to sooth his romantic woes.