James Mercer is to play the lead role in a forthcoming film about lonely people trying to connect.

The Shins frontman will star alongside Sleater-Kinney singer Carrie Brownstein in Some Days Are Better Than Others, which is scheduled for release next autumn, reports Pitchfork.

Director Matt McCormick, who has helmed some of the band's music videos, said the film was "about lonely people trying to create their own abstract forms of communication".

"With James, the character he plays is in many ways an extension of the character that I created for him in The Shins' 'The Past And Pending' video I did a while back. While writing the script, James sort of became this character by default," he said.

"The character isn't necessarily based on James, it was just James's face that was in my head when writing this character. And then after I did the 'Australia' video I was just completely impressed with his poise and ability to take direction, and eventually decided to give him a shot at playing this role."

McCormick said the film could be classed as a "charmingly melancholy look at abandonment".