Casey Affleck to star in Joe Wright's 'Stoner' adaptation

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Los Angeles: Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck is all set to star in Joe Wright's adaptation of 'Stoner'.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck is teaming up up to adapt Stoner, the acclaimed 1965 novel by John Williams.

Blumhouse Productions, Cohen Media Group (CMG) and Film4 are behind the feature project.

Andrew Bovell, a playwright-turned-screenwriter who previously wrote Lantana and the Mel Gibsonthriller ' Edge of Darkness', is writing the script.

The story tells the story of a of William Stoner, a dirt-poor farmer turned academic, who emerges as an unlikely existential hero while making his way through the first half of the 20th century.

The adaptation marks departure from the norm for Blumhouse, the banner usually known for its horror movies.

On teaming with Affleck and Wright for the movie, producer Jason Blum, said, "Because the novel is so beautiful but not well-known, fans of Stoner feel like they're in a secret club. I'm so excited that Casey, Joe and Andrew have come aboard to help expand this club's membership."

Blum is producing with Charles S. Cohen of CMG and Daniel Battsek of Film4, with Ethan Hawkeserving as executive producer.