Thornton goes Boxing

Memo to radio host Jian Ghomeshi: it’s now safe to call Billy Bob Thornton an actor again, he’s back to making movies. No more mashed potatoes without gravy.

Thornton has signed on to the adaptation of the novel POUND FOR POUND from F.X. Toole, pen name of late boxer and author Jerry Boyd who also wrote the stories that inspired MILLION DOLLAR BABY. Billy Bob will play a widowed former boxer whose loss of his grandson triggers a depression, just as he meets a young up-and-coming Latino boxer in need of veteran guidance.

The indie film, to be written and directed by sports lover Ron Shelton, is slated to begin production in early 2010 with no release date yet. As for Thornton’s music career, he’s probably waiting on some advice from Joaquin Phoenix.