Tobey Maguire Goes From Spider-Man to Seabiscuit

"Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire has signed on to play jockey Red Pollard, who piloted the fabled Depression-era horse Seabiscuit, in the major motion picture release of the Laura Hillenbrand book "Seabiscuit: An American Legend."

The Universal Pictures project will shoot this fall at Santa Anita and Saratoga, with release set for winter 2003. Gary Ross, who directed Maguire in "Pleasantville" will direct from his adaptation of Hillenbrand's book. Maguire will also serve as executive producer of the picture.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens also has a role in the picture. Stevens will play jockey George Woolf, a Pollard pal who took Seabiscuit's reins during a match race with War Admiral. Other roles yet to be cast are Seabiscuit's owner, Charles Howard, and trainer, Tom Smith.