Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s ‘Bible of the beat generation’ On The Road now has an official poster online. The film, which is to be produced by Francis Ford Coppola, was shot last year, and sees Sam Riley as the book’s narrator (and alter-ego of Kerouac) Sal Paradise. Riley has experience in portraying seminal icons and beloved literary characters alike (Ian Curtis in 2007’s ‘Closer’, as well as Pinkie in Rowan Joffe’s adaptation of ‘Brighton Rock’), though the expectation surrounding this project may be the highest yet of all his films, so treasured is the book as a document of ‘beat’ era America. Since the novel’s release in 1957, many adaptations have been planned but fallen through.

Salles already has plenty of experience in adapting the memoirs of a legendary road trip, since he directed 2004’s ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’, starring Gael Garcia Bernal as a young Che Guevara. Joining Riley in the film’s central roles are Garrett Hedlund as ‘wild one’ Dean Moriarty, Kristen Stewart as Marylou and her almost-namesake Kirsten Stewart as Camille.

The cast additionally includes a number of acclaimed actors; Steve Buscemi, Viggo Mortenson, Amy Adams and Terrence Howard. The poster released has a very tasteful and classic style, which bodes well for it’s anticipating audience.

The film’s official synopsis is as follows:

After the death of his father, Sal Paradise, an aspiring New York writer, meets Dean Moriarty, a young and dangerously seductive ex-con. They hit it off immediately. Determined not to get trapped in a narrow life, the two friends burn their bridges and hit the road : thirsting for freedom, they discover the world, others and themselves.

The film is currently scheduled for release late this year.

Source: Collider.