Is it weird that when I saw 500 Days of Summer last week I found myself wanting to hang out with Joseph Gordon-Levitt more than I wanted to date Zooey Deschanel? Or is it just creepy to admit that? We’ll see if I feel the same way about JGL’s next indie appearance, alongside Rainn Wilson and Natalie Portman in Hesher.

Portman has been part of the film for a while — she’s producing and playing a small role as a supermarket cashier who saves a 13-year old from a bully. The kid’s father will be played by Wilson (“pill-popping father”, says THR), while Gordon-Levitt is Hesher, the loser who “invades” the kid’s life and ultimately wields positive and negative influence over him. As would happen, I’m sure. 

Over at HitRecord.org, JGL doesn’t say much about the project, but does mention that he’ll work on it before starting Inception. Spencer Susser is directing from a script he co-wrote with David Michod. Susser made the tasty little short I Love Sarah Jane (starring Alice in Wonderland‘s Mia Wasikowska). Shooting starts next week.