Collider.com recently reported that young Australian actor Liam Hemsworth—Miley Cyrus' co-star in "The Last Song" who's also now playing Gale in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games"—will likely have a lead role in the feature film "AWOL," which has a screenplay by U-M film professor Jim Burnstein ("Renaissance Man" and "D3: The Might Ducks") and his writing partner Garrett K. Schiff. The film will be directed by Pioneer High and U-M grad Danny Mooney, who will be making his directorial debut.

According to the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau's film liasion Kay Seaser, "AWOL" is tentatively scheduled to film in the area from July 11-August 12.

Other performers now in talks to co-star in "AWOL" are Austin Stowell ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), Teresa Palmer ("I Am Number Four"), Aimee Teegarden ("Friday Night Lights" and "Scream 4"), Chris Lowell ("Up in the Air"), and Max Adler ("Glee").

The film, based on a true story, is set on the University of Michigan's campus in the midst of the volatile, anti-Vietnam War movement. According to Variety.com, Stowell would star "as a young soldier in Vietnam who gets dumped by his hometown girl, played by Teegarden. Hemsworth plays his best friend who joins him in going AWOL. Together, they return to the States to win her back."

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.