Newbie Joe Alwyn Tipped For "Billy Lynn's" Lead

Variety and Deadline report that newcomer Joe Alwyn has won the lead in "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," a film adaptation of author Ben Fountain's acclaimed Iraq War novel.

Alwyn comes out of nowhere beating Billy Howle Taron Egerton, Joe Cole and Jack Reynor for the part. No official offer has apparently been made--Alwyn rose to the top last week. He scored final approval from both the studio and director this past weekend, and this marks his first major role in a feature film.

The dark satire follows a ninteen-year-old Texas-born infantry man and his fellow U.S. servicemen who survive a firefight in Iraq in 2005. The Bush administration brings them home for a victory lap that leads them to the Dallas Cowboys’ football stadium where they're honored during the team's Thanksgiving halftime show. Then they return to war.

 Garrett Hedlund is eyed to to take the film's second male lead.

Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") has written the adapted script from which "Life of Pi" and "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee is calling the shots.

Simon Cornwell, Stephen Cornwell and Rhodri Thomas are slated to produce. 
 
Production begins in April.