I honestly don’t know how to take this news. But here it is… Lars Ulrich, co-founder and drummer of Metallica, the man that fans either love to hate or hate to love or some variation thereof, has been cast in a film. Yep, that’s right; Ulrich is stepping up into acting having been cast in the HBO movie, Hemingway and Gellhorn.

Hemingway and Gellhorn is a biopic being executive produced by James Gandolfini (Mr. Soprano himself!) and directed by Phil Kaufman. The HBO film will focus on the romance and marriage between Ernest Hemingway (portrayed by Clive Owen) and Martha Gellhorn (portrayed by Nicole Kidman). The plot will follow the two through the Spanish Civil War and afterwards.

Also included in the casting are Molly Parker, Parker Posey, and Peter Coyote.

Ulrich will be playing the role of Joris Ivens, who is a Dutch documentarian. The history of Ivens can be found at Wikipedia for those interested in learning more about the role. Ivens is known as being the filmmaker behind the movie This Spanish Earth, a piece he co-wrote with Hemingway.

Now I have my doubts about Ulrich’s chops when it comes to acting, even though I am a fan of the man and his music. But with the casting crew having made some of the impressive selections they have so far (I mean, Owen and Kidman, what a choice for the leading roles right there!), perhaps they see something in or know something about the musician we haven’t seen just yet.

Either way, we’ll have to wait and see. Hemingway and Gellhorn will be premiering in 2012, so we have a bit of a wait.

So, what do you think, people? Do you think Lars can pull off the acting gig? Or should he stick to the drums?

[Source: Deadline]