EXCLUSIVE: Steven Spielberg’s next feature film is picking up steam as he has found the next A-lister to join the ensemble of the film which is loosely based on the director’s childhood growing up in Arizona. Sources tell Deadline that Seth Rogen is set to play the favorite uncle of young Spielberg in the untitled pic from Amblin that already has Michelle Williams on board to play a role inspired by Spielberg’s mom, but with a separate and original voice.

Given how personal the story is, this also will mark the first time since 2001’s A.I. that Spielberg will partake in screenwriting duties, co-writing the script with Tony Kushner, who has penned several Spielberg movies. The film will start shooting this summer with an expectation it will be released sometime in 2022. Spielberg, Kushner and Kristie Macosko Krieger are producers.

As with anything that involves Spielberg, the casting process has been super secretive, leading to the town buzzing at who would land these coveted roles of the family and friends that inspired the filmmaker growing up. With the adult roles coming together, Spielberg now will look to cast the remaining roles, which includes children at multiple age levels, one of which will play the part inspired by the young storyteller.

Throughout the years, Spielberg has talked about how growing up in Arizona was an inspiration for so many of his films from story themes to actual characters. The 2017 HBO documentary Spielberg came the closest to diving into his past, but this will be the first time Spielberg is truly able to give perspective on the early years of one cinema’s greatest storytellers.

Steven Spielberg has added a new generation to the fictional family at the center of his semi-autobiographical film, which has the working title of “The Fabelmans.”

Oscar nominees Judd Hirsch (“Ordinary People,” “Independence Day”) and Jeannie Berlin (“The Heartbreak Kid,” “Succession”), and veteran stage and screen actors Robin Bartlett (“Mad About You,” “American Horror Story”) and Jonathan Hadary (“Veep,” “Girls5eva”) will play the older relatives of a young, aspiring filmmaker — played by Gabriel LaBelle (“The Predator”) — who is loosely based on Spielberg’s experiences as a kid in Arizona.

Hirsch, Berlin, Bartlett and Hadary are joining a high-powered ensemble cast led by Michelle Williams and Paul Dano, who are playing versions of Spielberg’s late mother and father; Seth Rogen, who is based on Spielberg’s favorite uncle; Julia Butters, playing the stand-in for Spielberg’s sister; and Sam Rechner, Oakes Fegley, Chloe East and Isabelle Kusman, who are playing high school classmates.

Spielberg co-wrote the screenplay with regular collaborator Tony Kushner (“Lincoln,” “West Side Story”), and both men are producing the film with Kristie Macosko Krieger, backed by Amblin Partners. Production is currently underway, with a release planned for 2022.

David Lynch has joined the cast of Steven Spielberg’s upcoming drama “The Fabelmans,” Variety has learned. His role remains a closely guarded secret.

“The Fabelmans” will mark the first collaboration between Lynch and Spielberg, both seminal directorial talents that emerged in the 1970’s. Lynch has accumulated a celebrated body of work over the course of his filmmaking career, drawing acclaim for directing films such as “Mulholland Drive,” “Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet,” “The Straight Story” and “Lost Highway.” His 1980 historical drama “The Elephant Man” received eight Oscar nominations, including one for Lynch’s directing, while his crime romance “Wild at Heart” won the Palme d’Or at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. Lynch received a second Oscar nomination for best director for “Mulholland Drive.” His most recent feature, “Inland Empire,” was released in 2006, inspiring praise from critics groups.

Lynch is also one of the minds behind the television series “Twin Peaks,” which he co-created with Mark Frost. Lynch directed six episodes in the series’ two-season run in the 1990’s, as well as the 1992 prequel film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.” In 2017, Lynch returned to “Twin Peaks,” directing an 18-episode sequel series for Showtime.

Beyond directing, Lynch has done the odd acting gig. He played FBI agent Gordon Cole across all iterations of “Twin Peaks” and his other credits range from guest appearances on “Louie” and “The Cleveland Show” to a supporting role in the 2017 Harry Dean Stanton vehicle “Lucky.”

Though Spielberg is currently immersed in a flurry of awards conversation for his reimagining of “West Side Story,” the director is also in post-production on “The Fabelmans.” Universal Pictures has set a release date around the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

While plot details remain under wraps, “The Fabelmans” is described as a semi-autobiographical project, drawing from Spielberg’s time growing up in Arizona.

Lynch joins a cast that includes Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Julia Butters and newcomer Gabriel LaBelle. Williams and Dano are expected to take on characters drawn from Spielberg’s parents, while Rogen’s role is said to be influenced by Spielberg’s uncle. LaBelle stars as aspiring filmmaker Sammy, a Spielberg analog, while Butters portrays his sister, Anne. “The Fabelmans” ensemble also features Judd Hirsch, Sam Rechner, Oakes Fegley, Chloe East, Julia Butters, Jeannie Berlin, Robin Bartlett, Jonathan Hadary and Isabelle Kusman.

Spielberg co-wrote the script with his frequent collaborator, Tony Kushner, marking the director’s first screenplay credit since 2001’s “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” The pair recently teamed on “West Side Story,” with previous collaborations including 2005’s “Munich” and 2012’s “Lincoln.” Spielberg and Kushner also serve as producers, alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger.

Universal Pictures announced today that Steven Spielberg’s latest film The Fabelmans will open exclusively in L.A. and NY on Friday, November 11—expanding on the film’s previously announced release date of November 23rd.