J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has been the impetus for many a coming-of-age film, and that's probably never going to change. But there's also a great deal of interest surrounding Salinger himself; just look at the buzz that surrounded the recent documentary on the author's mysterious life. Last year it was Danny Strong (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Empire) who signed on to bring Salinger's story to the big screen with an adaptation of Kenneth Slawenski's biography, J.D. Salinger: A Life, and now he's found a star to portray the acclaimed novelist.
Nicholas Hoult will star in The Rebel In the Rye, which is a title change from when it was called Salinger's War. The story will chronicle Salinger's childhood, attempt to break into the New York literary circle of the 1940s, his time on the frontlines during WWII, his enduring great love and terrible loss, and the PTSD-fueled writer’s block which led to a spiritual awakening. Strong will also be writing the screenplay for what will be his directorial debut.
Hoult was last seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and will be returning as Beast in next year's X-Men: Apocalypse.
