Ewan McGregor said to be on board to star in a film version of Philip Roth's 'American Pastoral'

Actor Ewan McGregor has reportedly signed on to star in a movie adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel “American Pastoral.” 

According to Variety, “August: Osage County” actor McGregor will star as Seymour Levov, also known as “Swede,” whose family is affected by the Vietnam War and the political situatiuon in the 1960s.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the movie will be directed by Phillip Noyce, , who helmed the 2010 movie “Salt” and the 2002 film “The Quiet American,” among others. Screenwriter John Romano, of the 2011 movie “The Lincoln Lawyer,” is reportedly on board as well.

“Phillip Noyce is an exceptionally talented filmmaker and we’re excited to see him bring Philip Roth’s great American classic to the big screen,” one of the film’s producers, Tom Rosenberg, said in a statement, according to Variety. “We’re thrilled to be working with Ewan McGregor and have long believed he is the perfect actor to take on the powerful and complex character of the Swede.” 

“Pastoral” was first released in 1997 and won the Pulitzer Prize.