Months after Nicholas Hoult signed on to play reclusive author J.D. Salinger in the new biopic entitled Rebel in the Rye, the rest of the cast is starting to come together. Deadline reports that Kevin Spacey has signed on to play Whit Burnett, a professor at Columbia University and editor of Story Magazine. He became an early mentor to the writer and became the first to truly challenge him and broaden his horizons as a storyteller.

Nicholas Hoult boarded the project in August, but aside from Kevin Spacey's role, it isn't known how many other characters have yet to be cast. Rebel in the Rye takes us on a journey into the life and mind of the legendary and secretive author and tells the story of the birth of The Catcher in the Rye. As the author who captivated a generation, J.D. Salinger soared to the heights of the literary world but left it all behind for a life of seclusion.

Through his rebellious youth, the bloody front lines of World War II, enduring great love and terrible loss, a life of rejection to the pages of The New Yorker, and the PTSD-fueled writer's block which led to a spiritual awakening. The author passed away at the age of 91 back in 2010. The author was the subject of a 2013 documentary entitled Salinger, which debuted in 2013.

Empire co-creator Danny Strong is directing from his own adapted screenplay, which is based on the Kenneth Slawenski biography, J.D. Salinger: A Life. Black Label Media is financing Rebel in the Rye, with Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill producing alongside Bruce Cohen, Jason Shuman and the writer-director. No release date has been set quite yet. and isn't known when production will begin at this time.

Kevin Spacey will next be seen in Season 4 of Netflix's House of Cards, which debuts March 4. On the big screen, he will next be seen in Elvis & Nixon, arriving in theaters April 15. He will also start production on Billionaire Boys Club and Baby Driver later this year. What do you think about this casting news for Rebel in the Rye?