Adam Scott talks about his new indie film, working with Josh Hartnett and future endeavors.

Adam Scott's stock just keeps rising and rising. After appearing in such films as High Crimes, The Aviator, The Matador and Art School Confidential, as well as a small part as the male nurse in Knocked Up, the actor has quite a busy few years ahead of him with a slew of projects in development and a summer blockbuster comedy Step Brothers. Scott's latest film is the indie film August from XX/XY director Austin Chick, which opens on July 11 in limited release. I recently spoke to the actor over the phone and here's what he had to say.

How did you first become involved in this and what drew you to your character, Josh Sterling?

Adam Scott: I first auditioned for it over a year ago and I was just excited to do so because I was a huge fan of XX/XY, Austin's previous movie, so I jumped at the chance to be able to try and get this movie.

Austin referred to your character as the "spine" of the movie, in the production notes. Did you feel the same way when you first read this script?

Adam Scott: I don't know. I definitely feel like the character is a bit of the moral compass, for the main character, for (Josh) Hartnett's character. I think it's interesting how he keeps going back to his brother, how Tom (Josh Hartnett's character) keeps going back to Josh and trying to get him to go along with him and, also, checking in and seeing if he's going way off the rails, ethically.

It's a really interesting blend. For some reason, we haven't seen that many movies about the dotcom era, the bubble bursting.

Adam Scott: Yeah.

It was really interesting with it also coming right on the heels of 9/11. Was that an intriguing element in taking this role as well?

Adam Scott: Yeah, absolutely. I think it's kind of a forgotten era in our recent history, that's worth examining. It was an incredible time. Culturally, the whole dotcom boom was kind of insane and it is worth examining. It as already on its way out by the time August of 2001 came around, but it's kind of like the specter of 9/11 living in the background of this movie is interesting. It's just letting the audience know that, very soon, all of this will be wiped clean and everyone will be thinking of something else.

You have quite an amazing cast to work with here with Josh, Naomie Harris, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Robin Tunney, Rip Torn. How many of these actors were signed on when you came on and what did you learn from these actors?

Adam Scott: It was just Hartnett when I signed on. It was great. I was really looking forward to working with him. I thought he was excellent in Lucky Number Slevin and The Black Dahlia and I love how he's just making interesting choices in his career. He's a really cool guy and we got along really well and I would love to work with him again. He works just so hard. It's great to see. Rip Torn, I mean I'm such a huge fan of The Larry Sanders Show and especially Defending Your Life. His performance in that is just incredible so I got to work with him and talk to him about those shows. Emmanuelle is lovely and very great of her to do this part. Robin Tunney is amazing, I got to work with her again really quickly. Andre Royo, who is just incredible on The Wire. It was awesome to work with him as well. They're just really cool people and really cool to work with. I didn't get to be in the scene with David Bowie, unfortunately, but he's great in the movie.

Austin's first movie, XX/XY, it was an indie success. For fans of XX/XY, what do you think this adds to his work and what do you think will appeal to fans of that movie in August?

Adam Scott: Well, it's a really stylistic shift. It's equally effective. I'm a huge fan of XX/XY. He's one of those filmmakers who, if you would watch these two films, you wouldn't know it's the same guy. It's really really interesting. He's a really versatile director and I think they're both just really uniquely effective movies. I'm thrilled to be in one of them, that's for sure.

What did you think of the look of the film when you saw it? I read that they used a certain kind of film and they underdeveloped it. It was a richer, grainier look.

Adam Scott: Oh, it's beautiful. I mean, we were shooting in 2:35, which is a really wide aspect ratio, like Heat or Lawrence of Arabia, that aspect ratio on the lens. As far as the look and the music, it's just hypnotic. It's a cool, cool look.

So what can you tell us about Step Brothers? It looks like quite a hilarious flick.

Adam Scott: Yeah, it is hilarious. I think people will be laughing a LOT in this one.

I remember seeing the movie theater ads and you think it's a still of them, and they start moving. I don't know if you've seen those before or not.

Adam Scott: Oh, no, I haven't. I've heard about them before but I haven't seen them yet. Are they really funny?

It's kind of creepy, actually. You're just sitting there watching and thinking it's just a picture of them and then he (Will Ferrell) starts messing with his (John C. Reilly) hair (Laughs). It's very odd.

Adam Scott: Oh, cool. Great, great.

Is there anything you're eyeing up for the future? I see you have a few movies in post right now.

Adam Scott: Yeah. Hopefully these movies will be hitting festivals soon, Passenger Side, Vicious Kind and Lovely, Still. I'm starting Season 2 of Tell Me You Love Me in August. That's pretty much it for now, I think.

So when is Tell Me You Love Me supposed to air? Is that a mid-season thing?

Adam Scott: Early January, is when that will start, yes.

Finally, August opens on July 11 in limited release. How do you think audiences will initially respond to this film and what do you want them to take away from it?

Adam Scott: I want them to walk away from it, hopefully, just invested in their relationship between the brothers and curious how they ended up solving their relationship dilemma. Just thinking about the implications of getting carried away with an idea. It's kind of a uniquely American problem, how idealism and ambition can get the best of you. It's a very uniquely American story and one of the things I love about it, is it reminds me of an Arthur Miller play, like "All My Sons" or something, where it's just all about ambition and pride and all of this stuff that ends up kind of biting you in the ass at the end. It's a really interesting story without pushing that idea in your face.

Well, that's about all I have for you, Adam. Thanks so much for your time today.

Adam Scott: Thanks, Brian.

You can watch Adam Scott, Josh Hartnett and the rest of this wonderful August cast when the film hits theaters on July 11, in limited release.

Dont't forget to also check out: August