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Timberlake To Take Field in Baseball Flick

Pop star will play minor leaguer trying to connect with family

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2008 8:21 PM CST

(Newser) – Justin Timberlake will take a swing at minor league ballplaying in the upcoming flick The Open Road, the AP reports. Adding to his Hollywood resume, Timberlake will play Carlton Garrett, a made-up member of the Houston Astros’ farm team, the Corpus Christi Hooks. Timberlake, aiming for authenticity, has attempted—so far unsuccessfully—to discuss his role with real Hooks players.

The film, which also stars Jeff Bridges, Mary Steenburgen, and Kate Mara, tells Garrett’s story as he tries to forge a connection with his famous father, also an athlete, and get home to his sick mother; it’s familiar ground for writer-director Michael Meredith, who studied in Texas and whose father was a Dallas Cowboys QB. Shooting began this week in Louisiana.

Justin Timberlake performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Justin Timberlake performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)   (Associated Press)
Jeff Bridges, seen here in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, will star with Justin Timberlake in the upcoming baseball film The Open Road. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Jeff Bridges, seen here in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, will star with Justin Timberlake in the upcoming baseball film "The Open Road." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)
Justin Timberlake arrives at the Hollywood Celebrate 18 event in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Timberlake will star in the upcoming baseball film The Open Road. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Justin Timberlake arrives at the "Hollywood Celebrate 18" event in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Timberlake will star in the upcoming baseball film "The Open Road." (AP Photo/Chris...   (Associated Press)
Actress Mary Steenburgen wears a Hillary Clinton tee-shirt and campaign button as she cheers for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., during a rally in Los Angeles Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Steenburgen will star in the upcoming baseball film The Open Road with Justin Timberlake. (AP Photo/Elise...
Actress Mary Steenburgen wears a Hillary Clinton tee-shirt and campaign button as she cheers for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., during a rally in Los Angeles Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
Justin Timberlake is photographed during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in this Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007 file photo.  The new star of the Corpus Christi Hooks minor league baseball team wants some playing tips.  Timberlake will portray fictional Hooks player Carlton Garrett in the upcoming movie The...
Justin Timberlake is photographed during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in this Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007 file photo. The new star of the Corpus Christi Hooks minor league baseball team...   (Associated Press)
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