Christopher Meloni Nabs Big Role in Joel Surnow's 'Small Time'

Chris Meloni is in final negotiations to star in Small Time, an indie drama written and to be directed by 24 co-creator Joel Surnow.

our editor recommends

'True Blood': 'SVU's' Chris Meloni Joins as Series Regular

Chris Meloni Casting Reports: Why 'True Blood' Should Bite

PHOTOS: True Blood's Dark, Sexy New Style

The story, a semi-autobiographical passion project for Surnow, centers on a used car dealer (Meloni) in Van Nuys who is still in love with his ex-wife and is dealing with a son that wants to forgo college and work alongside his father on the lot.

Devon Bostick (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) has been cast as the son, and Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) is in talks to play the Meloni’s partner.

An April shoot is being planned. Surnow is producing. Executive producing are Jonathan Koch and Steve Michaels through their production banner Asylum Entertainment.

Meloni, repped by Gersh and Industry Entertainment, has been keeping himself quite busy since leaving Law & Order: Special Victims Unit last year after 12 seasons. He shot Man of Steel for Christopher Nolan and nabbed a role on HBO’s True Blood. After Small Time, he will shoot 42, Legendary’s Jackie Robinson biopic with Harrison Ford and director Brian Helgeland.