John Cusack has signed on to star in the Plum Pictures indie drama Grace Is Gone. Pic, which Cusack is also producing through his New Crime Prods. shingle with Grace Loh, will mark the directorial debut of James C. Strouse.

Written by Strouse, Grace Is Gone centers on a father who takes his two daughters on a road trip upon learning that his wife has been killed in the line of duty in Iraq. Shooting is scheduled to start in April, says Variety.

In addition to Cusack and Loh, Plum Pictures' Galt Niederhoffer, Daniela Taplin Lundbergh and Celine Rattray are producing. Reagan Silber, Bruce Lunsford, Ed Hart and Paul Bernstein exec produce. Marilyn Haft and Roberta Burrows are co-producing.