Dave Acting in "Because of Winn Dixie"

By Waldo Jaquith
Dave Matthews will be playing a homeless man, one of the main characters in a movie to be filmed this fall, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, "Because of Winn-Dixie," is a coming-of-age flick starring Jeff Daniels (Arachnophobia, Dumb and Dumber, Gods and Generals) and directed by Wayne Wang (Joy Luck Club, Smoke, Blue in the Face). It's an adaptation of the novel, by Kate DiCamillo, and is slated for release in late 2004. "Because of Winn-Dixie" marks Dave's second film acting role, although the first that people are likely to notice. Dave played Will Coleman in a film adaptation of Where the Red Fern Grows, but the production has only been screened once thus far, with no known prospects of playing anywhere else anytime soon. Our thanks to Scott for the tip.