Vin Diesel and Chris Tucker are in talks to co-star in Ang Lee’s Iraq War drama “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” for TriStar.
The “Life of Pi” director has tapped newcomer Joe Alwyn to star in the title role in the film based on the Ben Fountain novel. Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Garrett Hedlund have also been cast.
“Billy Lynn” will be co-financed by Jeff Robinov’s Fosun-backed Studio 8, together with Chinese distribution company Bona Film Group.
The story centers on 19-year-old private Billy Lynn and his company, who survive a harrowing battle that’s captured by news cameras. They are brought home by the U.S. administration for a promotional tour, culminating at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game — while facing an imminent return to the war.
Lee is using the Sony F65 camera and shooting in native 3D, high resolution and with an ultra-high frame rate of 120 frames per second — with the aim of creating for audiences the heightened sensations that soldiers experience.
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Diesel stars in “Furious 7,” which hit theaters last week. Tucker was last seen in “Silver Linings Playbook.”
“Billy Lynn” is Lee’s first film since he won the best director Oscar for “Life of Pi.”
