Vin Diesel is no doubt on cloud nine right now. Having only been released for less than a week, Diesel’s Fast & Furious 7 has already grossed over $400 million worldwide, paving the way for more high-speed car high-jinks in the coming years. But for now, the actor is stepping out of the driver’s seat and into something a little more mellow.
Deadline is reporting that Vin Diesel and comedy-actor Chris Tucker (Silver Linings Playbook) are set to join the already stellar cast for director Ang Lee’s (Life of Pi) newest project, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
The film tells 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.
Diesel and Tucker would join Steve Martin (The Jerk), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Kristen Stewart (Clouds of Sils Maria), Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect) and newcomer Joe Alwyn. Lee will also produce the film, with Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) penning the screenplay.