Nick Cave and Paul Westerberg film news:
By Bec Smith GOLD COAST, Queensland (Hollywood Reporter) - British-born actor Guy Pearce, the star of thriller "Memento", will play the lead in "The Proposition", a historical drama written by rock star Nick Cave.
The film, set in the early 19th century, is "an epic Australian story about family, loyalty and betrayal ... a sort of gothic Western that is to Australia what 'Unforgiven' was to America," said producer Chris Brown.
While he could not confirm further cast hirings, Brown said there was likely to be at least one major British actor attached. Shooting will begin in Australia in six weeks, with John Hillcoat directing.
Pearce's credits also include "Two Brothers", "L.A. Confidential" and "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".
Hillcoat's other credits include "To Have and to Hold". He also has collaborated with Cave on various projects, including the 1988 film "Ghosts ... of the Civil Dead."
As for Mr Westerberg:
In the year between finishing his new album and its anticipated release next month, Paul Westerberg has shifted his focus to film. He has been working on songs for a Sony Pictures Animation project that he also expects to score.
"I can't talk too much about it," Westerberg tells Billboard.com. "It's just a matter of writing songs for this animated feature called 'Open Season.' It's not slated to be out until, oh I don't know, like 2006 or something. It's way in the future."