Screenwriter and actor Danny Strongwill make his directorial debut withSalinger’s War, a film based on the life of famed author J.D. Salinger.

Strong, who wrote the screenplay for Lee Daniels’ The Butler and the upcoming third and fourth Hunger Games films, has a strong interest in Salinger’s story. He optioned the book JD Salinger: A Life byKenneth Slawensk with his own money and wrote the script on spec.

Black Label Media, which has quickly become a go-to financing outfit for prestige fare, is producing the project. Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and ThadLuckinbill will produce along with Bruce Cohen, Jason Shuman and Strong.

STORY: Rare J.D. Salinger Stories Published Online

Salinger’s War follows the Catcher in the Rye writer from his early days trying to establish his career in New York’s literary circle in the early 1940’s. After numerous rejections, he finally finds his voice writing about a character named Holden Caulfield. Right as his career is about to begin, WWII breaks out and Salinger goes off to fight. His experiences at war forever change him, and help him to finally find his voice as a writer.

CAA packaged the deal and is repping North American rights.

Strong, whose acting credits include TV series Justified and AMC’s Mad Men, has also had roles in the films Pleasantville,Dangerous Minds, and Seabiscuit. On the screenwriting side, he wrote the scripts for HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries Game Change and Recount. He’s repped by CAA, Gotham Group and Jackoway Tyerman.