Movie News

Justin Timberlake to Play Baseball Player in New Movie

02/21/2008 at 01:15 PM EST

Justin Timberlake is ready for his turn at bat – for his newest movie role as a minor league baseball player in The Open Road.

The 27-year-old pop star will play fictional Corpus Christi Hooks player Carlton Garrett in the movie, which started shooting Tuesday in Hammond, La. In the movie, Timberlake's character is trying to reconnect with his father, an accomplished athlete played by Jeff Bridges.

The singer also tried to connect with some current minor league players in Texas recently, but their schedules didn't mesh. Although most of the real Hooks players are preparing for spring training, Hooks President J.J. Gottsch told the Associated Press that he hopes some players will still get to meet with the multiple Grammy winner.

"Justin wants to portray what it's like playing for the Hooks, playing for an Astros minor league team and playing at Whataburger Field," Gottsch told the AP.

This is not Timberlake's first big screen role. His other credits include the voice of Artie in Shrek the Third, plus roles in Alpha Dog, Southland Tales and Black Snake Moan.