Ewan McGregor to lead American Pastoral film

The "Star Wars" and "Trainspotting" actor will play troubled New Jersey businessman Seymour Levov in an adaptation of Philip Roth's Pulitzer winner "American Pastoral."

Directed by Philip Noyce of "Salt" and "Clear and Present Danger," ComingSoon.net discovered that "American Pastoral" is moving closer to realization after a lengthy 11-year pre-production cycle.

Explaining the film's protracted development, Noyce told ComingSoon that landing on the right script had been of particular importance; John Romero of "The Lincoln Lawyer" has provided the current treatment, and Noyce has an early 2015 date in mind for filming to start.

McGregor is soon to star in Johnny Depp crime caper "Mortdecai" as one of his pursuers, Inspector Martland, with a co-starring role in "Jane Got a Gun," opposite "Star Wars" prequel colleague Natalie Portman, both set for release in February 2015.