Atlas Shrugged: The Movie?

Two things you will find on many suburban American teens’ shelves: One Tree Hill on DVD and a copy of an Ayn Rand novel.

How else are these things related, you ask? Well, the guy who played Chad Michael Murray’s dad on One Tree Hill is helming—and starring in—a film adaptation of Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, according to Variety.

Shooting began this past weekend in Los Angeles for Atlas Shrugged Part One, a $5-million indie adaptation backed by exercise equipment tycoon John Aglialoro, who bought the movie rights to the novel for $1 million 17 years ago. According to Variety, Aglialoro said he would have lost the film rights if the movie wasn’t in production by Saturday. Aglialoro and Harmon Kaslow will produce and Paul Johansson, best known as Dan Scott on One Tree Hill, will direct. The novel will be divided into three films.

In addition to directing, Johansson will star as protagonist John Galt. Joining him in the principal cast are other television stars: Taylor Schilling from the medical drama Mercy will play Dagny Taggart, Ugly Betty‘s Grant Bowler has signed on as Henry Reardon. A Serious Man’s Michael Lerner will appear as lobbyist Wesley Mouch and renowned filmmaker Nick Cassavetes will play Richard McNamara.

A film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged has been the subject of rumors for a while now, with a failed attempt by Lionsgate in 2007 (with Angelina Jolie rumored to be playing Dagny Taggart) and a proposed miniseries in 2009 (with Charlize Theron as Taggart).

Rand’s 1957 dystopian novel/Objectivist manifesto has come back into vogue in the political world, to the delight of some and serious chagrin of others, which should create an interesting mix of buzz around the film.

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