Zephyr Benson just landed a big acting role.
The up-and-coming filmmaker was cast alongside Oscar winner Chris Cooper (“Adaptation”) in “Coming Through the Rye,” TheWrap has learned. Benson is set to play Gerry, brother to one of the two teens hellbent on tracking down famed American author J.D. Salinger.
Emmy winner Jim Sadwith (“Sinatra”) is writing and directing the film, based upon his life and in production. Alex Wolff (“Hair Brained”) and Stefania Owen (“The Lovely Bones”) star as two teens desperate to find the “Catcher in the Rye” scribe.
As TheWrap reported on Wednesday, Cooper (“Adaptation”) has been cast as Salinger.
Benson, just 21, recently wrote, directed and starred “Straight Outta Tompkins,” a gritty film based upon his teen years in New York City and past struggles with heroin.
Steven Arcieri of Arcieri & Associates represented Benson on the casting deal.
Also read: J.D. Salinger Biopic Planned by The Weinstein Co., ‘Salinger’ Documentary Filmmaker
“Coming Through the Rye” marks Sadwith’s directorial debut, but the filmmaker previously won a Primetime Emmy for directing “Sinatra” in 1992. Producers are Stan Erdreich, Teddy Grennan and Jim Sadwith.