Nick Urata has been tapped to write the music for the upcoming political comedy Grassroots. The film is directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal (Homegrown, Losing Isaiah) and stars Jason Biggs (American Pie), Joel David Moore (Avatar), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Christopher McDonald (Requiem for a Dream), Tom Arnold and Cedric the Entertainer. The movie centers on a journalist, who, after losing his job, reluctantly agrees to help his oddball friend with his bid to earn a seat on the Seattle City Council. Grassroots is produced by Peggy Rajski (The Grifters). No word yet on a release date for the project. For updates on the film, visit the official movie website and Facebook page.

Urata who is best known as a member of the indie rock group DeVotchKa (also known for co-writing the music for the indie hit Little Miss Sunshine with Mychael Danna) has been successfully scoring movies for the past few years, including I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor. The composer also scored the drama What’s Wrong with Virginia, which premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and is still awaiting a release date. The film marks the directorial debut of Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black (Milk), who also wrote the project’s screenplay. The movie stars Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Emma Roberts and Toby Jones and revolves around a mentally disturbed woman mucking up the state senate campaign of a sheriff with whom she’s long had an affair. An announcement regarding the film’s release plan is expected in the near future.