Joshua Jackson To "Lay the Favorite"

If you look at Joshua Jackson and still see Pacey Witter from "Dawson's Creek,"you might have a few problems. On top of the fact that you are stuck in the wrong decade, you've totally missed out on some of the most enjoyable TV work in a while. "Fringe" is one of the best shows on TV, and while John Noble and Anna Torv are both great on the show, Jackson is just as good, bringing some emotion and brooding rage to the table.

Jackson has had a very solid career since his "Dawson's Creek" days, but while working on "Fringe" he hasn't been able to do much film work apart from "One Week" and "Shutter," but that’s about to change.

The actor is attached to the adaptation "U.F.O." and according to Variety Jackson is in talks to star in Stephen Frears' "Lay the Favorite" for Pathe and Emmett Furla Films reports Variety.

Based on Beth Raymer’s bestseller "Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling", the story charts her rise from lowly Vegas cocktail waitress to one of the top sports gambling bookmakers. After falling in love, Raymer soon begins to re-evaluate her life and the profession she has chosen. Rebecca Hall and Bruce Willis also star.

Frears is one of Hollywood's most underrated directors, having worked on such great films as "High Fidelity," "The Queen" and "Dirty Pretty Things" and should bring a great eye to this project. He is very versatile and has worked on all types of genres in his career, including comedies, dramas and biopics.

Jackson joins an already strong cast with Willis and Hall, who gave a great performance last year in Ben Affleck's "The Town" and should bring some emotional depth to the project.

D.V. DeVincentis (”High Fidelity,” “Grosse Pointe Blank”) adapted the script and shooting aims to kick off in New Orleans in the coming weeks.