James Franco has joined the cast of the new film Me, You, marking one of Franco’s first film projects since he agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit. The 44-year-old actor will have a leading role in Me, You, starring alongside Tom Hollander and Daisy Jacob.

The post World War II-drama from Danish director Bille August is based on the Erri De Luca novel Tu, Mia, a coming-of-age drama that takes place in the Italian island of Ischia in the 1950s. The story follows Marco, a 16-year-old on break from his Scottish boarding school who befriends Nicola (Franco), a U.S. soldier-turned-fisherman who regales Marco with tales of war and oceans. Marco then meets the mysterious Caia (Jacob), a 20-year-old whose childhood was stolen by the SS. Marco plans to avenge Caia by attacking a group of German tourists.

Franco said in a statement:  “I am excited to board this phenomenal project and to be working with the legendary Bille August. I’m a huge fan of his work, and ‘Me, You’ is a truly brilliant script.”

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com