Justin Timberlake: serious dramatic actor. Who ever thought we would see that phrase and take it seriously? But since his acclaimed role in last year's not-so-acclaimed Alpha Dog, the man currently starring in a Pepsi commercial has been taking film roles left and right, with most critics no longer bothering to bat an eye. Keep in mind that JT is also the sexiest man alive and writes songs that make even my grandmother want to hit the dance floor. Why aren't we resenting him again?

Anyway, Timberlake has signed on for another film role in an independent drama called The Open Road, also starring Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen. Variety reports that Timberlake will play a young man trying to reconnect with his father, who is a legendary athlete. Steenburgen will play his mother, who is dying. Kate Mara has also been cast as Timberlake's girlfriend.

The film will be shot in Louisiana and across the South, which means that once again a filmmaker will be trading in on Timberlake's Southern charisma. So he's not exactly Daniel Day-Lewis, but Timberlake seems to be making a serious career for himself, and taking it seriously as well. Lord knows he could take just about any movie role at this point without seriously tarnishing his reputation-- we easily could have seen his cameo in Meet the Spartans. So lets be glad that a young actor with some talent isn't just jumping for the paycheck instantly, and seems to be more interested in doing, well, real acting.