Kristen Stewart is the latest name to be tied to Ang Lee’s next, a big screen adaptation of Ben Fountain’s 2012 bestseller, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. TheWrap has the news, reporting that The Twilight Saga actress is eyeing the role of Kathryn Lynn (Billy’s older sister) opposite Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund and Steve Martin. Meanwhile, Deadline reports that Ben Platt (Ricki and the Flash) has been cast in the role of Josh, a point person for the Dallas Cowboys.
The film will tell the story of 19-year-old soldier Billy Lynn and his squad, who survive an Iraq battle that is captured by embedded news cameras, causing them to become celebrated as heroes. They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour that culminates at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game in Texas, before they are returned to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the game, with flashes away to other events.
“I am very excited to be going back to work and to be collaborating with my old friend Tom Rothman,” Lee said in a statement last fall. “The most important thing to me is storytelling and ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ is a story that immediately gripped me. I look forward to starting the creative process with this extraordinary team of collaborators.”
Originally optioned by Film4 — who will produce alongside Lee, Ink Factory’s Stephen and Simon Cornwell and Rhodri Thomas — Fountain’s novel has been adapted by Simon Beaufoy, who took home an Academy Award for his work on Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
Stewart, who recently starred in both Clouds of Sils Maria and Still Alice, can next be seen in director Nima Nourizadeh’s American Ultra, starring opposite Jesse Eisenberg.
(Photo Credit: Brian To / WENN.com)
