Steve Martin joins Ang Lee's 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk'

While perhaps more prolific in his music and writing careers these days, Steve Martin's not afraid to step back in front of the camera when given the right part. And it's hard to turn down a part in Ang Lee's latest, an adaptation of Ben Fountain's Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

The casting news comes from The Wrap. Martin joins newcomer Joe Alwyn whose cast in the titular role. The character Martin plays in the movie is kept under wraps at the moment, but, given the source material at hand, he's likely to play Albert, a big-time Hollywood producer who tries to get the rights to the soldiers' story during the big football game.

While a small-to-midsize role, this would give Martin a pivotal part as Billy Lynn's plot progressed. Perhaps, depending on how well the actor does, Lee's direction and the marketing direction, this could lead Martin into Oscar talks. It's weird to think the man behind "King Tut" could soon be an Oscar winner/nominee, but weirder things have happened in the awards show's past.

In addition to Martin's casting, the reports also note Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) is eyed to play Billy's hard-as-nails drill sergeant. Production on the new film is set to begin this April.

With an adapted screenplay by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire), Lee's 3D dramatization of Fountain's award-winning novel tells the story of 19-year-old private Lynn. He, along with his Bravo company, are brought on the football field during a halftime show during a big Thanksgiving game in-between their promotional tour home when their life-saving battles in Iraq are caught by news cameras. As the game commences, Lynn struggles with the moral consequences of war, his actions and the state of his nation.

In addition to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Martin provides his voice in DreamWorks Animation's Home on March 27 and also signed on to star in Disney's Magic Camp. Depending on when Billy Lynn comes to theaters, this will be Martin's first on-screen performance since 2011's The Big Year.

Image courtesy of INFphoto.com

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