James Franco is set to direct an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s realist-style novel In Dubious Battle, which tells the story of the struggle between labor and capital in 1930s America, portraying is as close to all out warfare.

The project has been scriped by Matt Rager (As I Lay Dying) and will see Franco joined in the cast by Selena Gomez, Vincent D’Onofrio, Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston and Danny McBride. Here’s the official synopsis:

Set in a fictionalized valley in California, the story explores themes Steinbeck continued to develop: group behavior, social injustice, man’s inhumanity to man— all themes which continue to be relevant today. A labor conflict between migrant apple pickers and the local growers’ association is the backdrop against which Jim Nolan (Franco) becomes involved in the labor movement and rapidly matures as he learns what it means to do organizational fieldwork.

“I am very inspired by James’ work and cannot wait to collaborate with him on this project with these remarkable artists,” states producer Andrea Iervolino. “This film will be stunning portrait of strife and violence and bringing it to life with such a remarkably talented cast fortifies our belief that we are creating a classic.”