Jeff Bridges will star in the big screen adaptation of The Emperor’s Children, Claire Messud’s bestselling novel about fortune and fate, chronicling the life of famous journalist and liberal opinion-maker Murray Thwaite during the days leading up to 9/11 . The film focuses on a group of entitled, sophisticated thirty-something New Yorkers, including Murray’s popular daughter Marina and her closest friends from Brown University. The story follows Murray as he becomes entangled in the lives of the young clique, specifically his involvement with his daughter’s best friend Danielle.

It’s obvious from the impressive team working on the movie that it’s going to be a prestigious project. Producing are prolific filmmakers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Directing is Lake Bell, best known for the romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas. The screenplay was written by Noah Baumbach, whose diverse résumé covers the spectrum from commercially successful animated features like Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted to critically acclaimed indie flicks like Frances Ha.

Although the picture is still in the early stages of development and Jeff Bridges is the only actor cast so far, it seems to have all the right ingredients to contend for major movie awards.

A release date has not yet been set, but the movie is expected to begin shooting later this year.