Kerouac: His book defines the post-war Beat Generation

It was just after World War II and the novel became known as the defining novel of the Beat Generation.

Oscar-winning Coppola bought the rights to the book many years ago. Only now, however, has he come to a decision about his choice of director.

Pitt is set to play Dean Moriarty, the character based closely on Neal Cassady.

Crudup, star of the recent rock road-trip movie Almost Famous, is lined up to play Kerouac.

Stimulants

News of the film comes with a revival in interest in Kerouac and the Beat Generation.

In May, the original manuscript for On the Road sold for just under �1.8m ($2.43m ) at auction in New York.

The manuscript was written in three weeks

It was bought by James Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts America football team.

The 120ft-long rolled paper manuscript was typed by Kerouac over the course of three weeks in April 1951.

The writer is said to have kept himself going on a continuous diet of caffeine and drugs.

Irsay plans to take Kerouac's legendary masterpiece on tour across America.