Cameron Crowe has cast Colin Ford as Matt Damon's son in 20th Century Fox's "We Bought a Zoo," the studio has confirmed to TheWrap.
The project is based on Benjamin Mee's memoir, which follows a man who moves his family to the English countryside to operate a dilapidated zoo.
Mee used his life savings to buy the zoo, and had to balance caring for his wife — who was dying of brain cancer — with the many responsibilities of renovating and re-opening a zoo filled with 200 exotic animals, some of which were endangered.
Aline Brosh McKenna ("The Devil Wears Prada") wrote the initial draft of the screenplay, which has since been rewritten by Crowe.
Ford is best known for playing young Sam Winchester on the CW series "Supernatural."
The 14-year-old actor recently won a Young Artist Award for "Supernatural," and he was previously nominated for three other Young Artist Awards, indicating that he's an up-and-comer worth keeping an eye on.
He recently guest starred on CBS' "CSI: Miami" and "Hawaii Five-0."
Julie Yorn is producing "We Bought a Zoo," which Fox plans to release on Dec. 23, 2011.
Crowe hasn't directed a movie since 2005's disappointing "Elizabethtown," but Mee's touching memoir fits right in the filmmaker's wheelhouse.
Ford is represented by Osbrink Talent Agency and Management 360.
