Strange casting news ahead.
According to TheWrap, Vin Diesel (of “Fast & Furious” fame) and Chris Tucker (of “Rush Hour” fame) are nearing deals to co-star in Ang Lee‘s next movie, “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”. And that’s not all. Newcomer Joe Alwyn stars as the title character alongside Garrett Hedlund, Steve Martin, and get this, the “Twilight” saga‘s Kristen Stewart.
Odd casting, but we’re not sure how big of a role Kristen Stewart will play or how much screen time she will share with Vin Diesel or Chris Tucket. We do know, however, that she will play Billy Lynn’s older sister.
Based on the bestselling novel by Ben Fountain, the story follows 19-year-old Texas-born infantryman Billy Lynn and his fellow U.S. servicemen who survive a firefight in Iraq in 2005. The Bush administration brings the veterans home for a victory lap that leads them to the Dallas Cowboys’ football stadium where they’re honored during the team’s Thanksgiving halftime show before they return to war in Iraq.
Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 and Chinese distribution company Bona Film Group are onboard alongside TriStar and Film4. Simon Beaufoy, who won an Oscar for writing “Slumdog Millionaire”, adapted the book for Film4 and The Ink Factory. The film will be produced by Marc Platt and Ink Factory’s Stephen Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas, and Simon Cornwell, as well as Lee.
“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” will feature state-of-the-art high frame rate technology, and production is slated to start this month.
Vin Diesel currently stars in “Furious 7”, which has been absolutely destroying box office records since it opened on 3rd April.