Will Forte and Bruce Dern have joined the cast of Nebraska for Paramount Pictures and director Alexander Payne (The Descendants).

The story, written by Bob Nelson and Phil Johnston, centers on a man (Will Forte) who embarks on a road trip from Montana to Nebraska with his cantankerous, alcoholic father (Bruce Dern), after the dad believes he has won the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes prize. We first reported on this project last January, when Alexander Payne signed on to direct.

Production will begin in October, with the director working from a $13 million budget. It is also said that the filmmaker will shoot in black-and-white. Paramount is eyeing a late 2013 release date, just in time for Oscar season next year.