El papel de Justin en Alpha Dog

Justin Timberlake jumps from the stage to the big screen like a pit bull in ‘Alpha Dog’, and ET’s got him!

On the heels of his just-announced four Grammy nominations, a buffed-up JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has a gripping, all-new movie called ‘Alpha Dog’ coming to theaters on January 12 — and ET’s got him!

«That’s what made me sign up, actually, the fact that I got to take my shirt off so much», Justin jokes to ET. «I haven’t told anyone that. You get the scoop on that».

Justin and his co-stars actually went to a three-month boot camp to get in shape for the film, and although it was intense, Justin says the experience brought the ‘Alpha’ cast closer together.

«In consoling each other through our misery, I think that’s where we found our sort of chemistry, and a friendship, and a camaraderie, just like the army», explains the pop star, joking that for his diet, «I ate cardboard for three months. It was just a specific caloric intake that we had. I didn’t ask any questions. I was a player in this humongous game and I just played like a good sport».

Based on true events, ‘Alpha Dog’ follows a group of Southern California teens who live a life of privilege — parties, women, drugs, video games — until their «above-the-law» attitude gets them into hot water.

«It happens time and time again — young people don’t have the perspective to understand how quickly things could go wrong, because nothing’s ever gone wrong for a lot of young people», says Justin. «I think that that’s why this film is so important».

Justin plays the heavily tattooed Frankie, the loyal friend of Johnny Truelove (‘Lords of Dogtown’ star EMILE HIRSCH). Johnny controls the drug trade in his neighborhood and is the epicenter of the partying group. When he’s double-crossed by the hot-headed Jake (BEN FOSTER of «Six Feet Under») during a drug deal, Johnny has his gang impulsively kidnap Jake’s younger brother, Zack («Huff» star ANTON YELCHIN), and hold him hostage in Palm Springs until the money can be delivered.

Johnny and Frankie have no real intention of hurting the kid, and the gang ingratiates Zack into their inner circle, where he indulges in a teen fantasy of drinking, girls and new experiences. But soon, the situation gets way out of control, the authorities start to get involved, and Frankie is put in a position where he may have to commit the unthinkable.

«After I read the real-life newspaper clippings and police reports, that’s when I felt I was ecstatic, that I wanted to be in the project», says Justin. «This is about misguidance. This is about a loss of perspective. This is about young people being cruel to other young people, and it happens in every culture».

No stranger to acting, Justin has made TV appearances on such shows as «Saturday Night Live» and «The Simpsons», and he recently starred opposite KEVIN SPACEY and MORGAN FREEMAN in ‘Edison Force’. He also has roles in the upcoming ‘Black Snake Moan’ with SAMUEL L. JACKSON and lends his voice to this summer’s ‘Shrek the Third’, opposite steady girlfriend CAMERON DIAZ.

Directed by NICK CASSAVETES (‘The Notebook’), ‘Alpha Dog’ also stars BRUCE WILLIS and SHARON STONE.

Watch ET for more with Justin and ‘Alpha Dog’!