While Justin Timberlake has been getting steady acting work for years, his career really took off thanks to his praised performance in The Social Network. Now the Coen brothers think he’s right for their next project, and the writing/directing/producing duo have offered him one of the lead roles in Inside Llewyn Davis.
Set in the developing folk music scene of 1960s Greenwich Village in New York, the movie will follow the struggles of the title character (Oscar Isaac), a talented musician who inspires others yet can’t seem to make enough playing gigs.
Among those he mentors is fellow tunesmith Jim (Timberlake, if he accepts the role), who is trying to find his own voice. He’s married to Jean (Carey Mulligan, who is already aboard).
Isaac’s character is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk, a singer/songwriter who hung with the likes of Bob Dylan.
This could be a another big boost to Timberlake’s acting career, but of course he’ll have decide whether he can handle the musical element of it… What’s that? He’s also known for what? Oh, yeah… Never mind.
Joel and Ethan Coen are looking to get filming early next year in New York. Timberlake, meanwhile, will next be seen in Andrew Niccol’s In Time, which is out here on Tuesday November 1.