James Franco casts Selena Gomez, Bryan Cranston in his directorial 'In Dubious Battle'

Singer-actress Selena Gomez and actor James Franco are reuniting on the big screen for "In Dubious Battle".

"In Dubious Battle" is based on John Steinbeck's eponymous novel, which portrays the economic struggle between labour and capital in 1930s America.

Franco will also be directing the film, which has a star-studded cast that includes Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston and Danny McBride.

The film is set in a fictionalised valley in California and explores themes Steinbeck continued to develop: group behaviour, social injustice and man's inhumanity to man.