Christopher Meloni departed from his full-time job on the small screen, but he’s busier than ever on the big one. After leaving Law and Order: SVU last year, he signed on to star in director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the Jackie Robinson biopic 42, and it was confirmed last month that the actor would reprise his role in the sequel to the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, which is currently in pre-production.

He’s adding another project to his busy schedule, as THR says that Meloni is in final negotiations to star in Small Time, an indie drama written, directed, and produced by Joel Surnow (24). The deal marks the first big feature lead role for the veteran character actor, who has a history of small but memorable supporting parts in films like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

In Surnow’s semi-autobiographical work, Meloni will play a used car salesman who’s still carrying a torch for his ex-wife and dealing with a son more concerned with working on the lot than going to college. Devon Bostick (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) will play the son, and Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) is in talks for the role of Meloni’s business partner.

Shooting on Small Time is planned to begin in April.

What do you think of the premise behind Small Time? Does Meloni’s involvement make you more interested in seeing the film?