Feb 21, 2008 11:55 am US/Eastern
Timberlake To Star In Baseball Movie
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) ―
The new star of the Corpus Christi Hooks minor league baseball team wants some playing tips.
Justin Timberlake will portray fictional Hooks player Carlton
Garrett in the upcoming movie "The Open Road." The 27-year-old pop star
tried to meet with players of the Houston Astros' Double-A team in
Austin recently, but schedules didn't align.
"Justin wants to portray what it's like playing for the Hooks,
playing for an Astros minor league team and playing at Whataburger
Field," Hooks President J.J. Gottsch said.
"The Open Road" is the story of a young man trying to reconnect with
his father — a legendary athlete played by Jeff Bridges — as he
struggles to get home to his ailing mother. Mary Steenburgen and Kate
Mara are also in the film.
Writer-director Michael Meredith, son of former Dallas Cowboys
quarterback Don Meredith and a former University of Texas student, drew
on his Texas ties for the concept, Gottsch said.
While most of the real Hooks are preparing for spring training,
Gottsch remained hopeful that a handful of players may be able to
consult with Timberlake — No. 31 in the movie — about his role.
Shooting on the movie began Tuesday in Hammond, La.
Last year, Timberlake voiced a character in the Mike Myers opus
"Shrek the Third." His screen credits also include "Alpha Dog" and
"Black Snake Moan."
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
