Kirsten Dunst discusses her 'On the Road' love triangle

Jack Kerouac's book and director Walter Salles drew her to the project

By Josh Lasser Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012 1:30 PM

Recently, HitFix chatted with Kirsten Dunst on her role in "On the Road," the new film directed by Walter Salles ("Central Station," "The Motorcycle Diaries.")

The movie, based on the famed Jack Kerouac novel, features Dunst as Camille, the wife of main character Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund, "Tron: Legacy").

A semi-autobiographical novel, Camille is based upon Carolyn Cassady and Moriarty on Neal Cassady, with Sal Paradise standing in for Kerouac himself (played here by Sam Riley, "Control").

Considered a classic in American literature, Kerouac's novel is about the Beat Generation and its ideals and follows Sal on several road trips around the country.

In the interview (above), Dunst discusses her desire to be a part of the film both as an opportunity to work with Salles and in order to be part of an adaptation of such an important, cherished, novel, something she says doesn't regularly take place.

Dunst, a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award winner ("Melancholia"), additionally talks about her character's love for Dean and the triangle between herself, Dean, and Marylou (Kristen Stewart, the "Twilight" films).

Also starring Viggo Mortensen, Elisabeth Moss, and Amy Adams, "On the Road" is currently playing in New York and Los Angeles. It is due to expand to more cities in January.