I’m surprised they haven’t yet done a movie based on this book, one of the greatest American novels of all time. Although it seems like talks for the movie have been on for years, only now do they finally have a screenplay by writer Russel Banks, and pre-production has begun. It is to be produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by Walter Salles, who also directed The Motorcycle Diaries.

The cast hasn’t been announced yet, but I do wonder, who will they cast as Sal Paradise (Jack Kerouac) and Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady)? I can’t think of any American actors in their early-mid twenties who might fit the parts. Emile Hirsch from Into The Wild and Michael Cera from Juno perhaps? Aged 20, Michael Cera is probably too young. Johnny Depp would be able to do Kerouac, but he is way too famous and much older. Matthew McConaughey? Leonardo Di Caprio?

Man, it’s going to be tough getting the casting for these roles right. What do you think? Who should play Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty?