Andrew Garfield will star with Jennifer Garner in 'Back Roads'.

The 27-year-old actor will take the lead role in the film adaptation of Tawni O'Dell's bestselling novel as a young man who is forced to care for his three younger sisters after their mother is jailed for killing her abusive husband.

Jennifer, 38, will play a family neighbour who becomes romantically involved with the 'Spiderman' star's character.

Television and film actress Marcia Gay Harden is also involved in the project and is set to play a court-appointed therapist.

Adrian Lyne will direct the Pennsylvania-set murder mystery from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tawni, with 'Capote' producer Michael Ohoven, Dan Spilo and Kevin Turen also working on the film.

Andrew - who also stars in 'The Social Network' and 'Never Let Me Go' - said last month that he hopes he will always be "struggling" for roles, so he is always learning.

He said: "I hope I never Blow Up. I hope that I have to audition for every single job I want. I hope that I'm always struggling, really. You develop when you're struggling. When you're struggling, you get stronger."