Tommy Lee Jones Joins Casey Affleck in Joe Wright's 'Stoner' Adaptation (Exclusive)

The film is based on John Williams' critically acclaimed 1965 novel.

Tommy Lee Jones is set to star in Stoner, the next project from Brit director Joe Wright (Atonement)

The film, which is being produced by Blumhouse Productions and Cohen Media Group, with backing from Film4, is based on John Williams' 1965 novel, adapted by Andrew Bovell, and will see the Oscar-winning actor team with newly minted Academy Award winner Casey Affleck, whose casting was announced last month. Although the book wasn't a hit when it was first published, it became a best-seller after being reissued in 2003.

Affleck is set to play the title role of William Stoner, a dirt-poor farmer turned academic who emerges as an unlikely existential hero while making his way through the first half of the 20th century. Jones' character isn't yet known.

Jason Blum, Charles S. Cohen of CMG and Daniel Battsek of Film4 will serve as producers on Stoner, with Ethan Hawke as executive producer. Battsek brought the project to FIlm4 when he was at CMG.

Seen last year in Jason Bourne and Mechanic: Resurrection, Jones is next set to appear in Shock and Awe and the action comedy Just Getting Started and is currently filming the James Gray-directed sci-fi Ad Astra alongside Brad Pitt.

Wright's latest film, the World War II thriller Darkest Hour, bowed at Telluride, earning rave reviews, with its lead Gary Oldman tipped as a best actor nominee for his portrayal of British wartime leader Winston Churchill. Focus Features is set to release the film on Nov. 22.