Coyote Ugly star Piper Perabo has been cast as Justin Timberlake's love interest in his first major movie role.

Perabo will be the lead female in Edison, a crime thriller which stars Timberlake as a young journalist who uncovers a group of corrupt policemen.

Also on the cast are Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and LL Cool J. Filming begins shortly in Canada ahead of a release next year.