The flick will follow three soldiers who return home from the conflict and find the readjustment difficult. Samuel L. Jackson has been cast as a middle-age doctor who is surprised to discover that his tour of duty at home is even more daunting than the one he just finished in the Middle East.

Jessica Biel, Christina Ricci and “7th Heaven” actor Brian Presley have also signed on to the independently financed film, which is expected to begin shooting in Morocco next month with a budget of $12 million. The production will also shoot in Spokane, Washington, and will then approach studios for a distribution deal.

50 Cent, who recently made his acting debut in the semi-autobiographical drama “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” is in final negotiations to make “Brave” his first true attempt at playing a fully fictionalized character. The 30-year-old hip-hop superstar would be joining a rare attempt by Hollywood to address the war in Iraq, one that Winkler admits was a difficult sell.