The upcoming film adaptation of Jim Dent's novel "12 Mighty Orphans" has found its Coach Rusty Russell.

Luke Wilson has boarded the Great Depression-era drama, Deadline reports. He'll star as a Texas football coach who leads a team of 12 orphans. Ty Roberts is directing the film from a script he adapted with Lane Garrison.

Wilson's character is a WWI vet and an orphan himself. His mother left him as a child, ultimately leading him to take a job coaching at a high school/orphanage as an adult. Coach Russell will turn his team into a contender for the Texas state championship.

Wilson has had a busy acting career for the last two-plus decades. He was part of the ensemble cast of "Berlin, I Love You," out earlier this year, and has multiple films on the way, including "The Goldfinch" and "Zombieland: Double Tap," among others. He also has a recurring role in the upcoming DC series "Stargirl" and previously starred in Showtime's "Roadies."

"12 Mighty Orphans" will be produced by Mike De Luca, Houston Hill, Angelique De Luca, and Greenbelt Films' Brinton Bryan. Executive producers will be George Young Jr., Rhett Bennett, Greg McCabe, and J. Todd Harris. The project will begin production in the fall in Fort Worth, Texas.

[via: Deadline]