Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon will star in the independent film Sunlight Jr. Written and directed by Laurie Collyer (Sherrybaby), the movie follows convenience store clerk Melissa (Watts) and her paraplegic boyfriend, Richie (Dillon).  The two "are trapped in a generational cycle of poverty and ignorance. They are genuinely excited when they learn that Melissa is pregnant. But when she loses her job and they are evicted from the motel where they live, things go from bad to worse."  The press release doesn't say whether or not the film is a dark comedy or an overwrought, depressing-as-hell drama.  If it turns out to be a drama, the premise sound like it could end up veering into darkly comic territory anyway, but it would be unintentional.

Hit the jump for the press release.  Watts will next be seen in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, and Dillon is set to co-star in Robert Redford's The Company You Keep.

Here's the press release:

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY HAS BEGUN ON ‘SUNLIGHT JR.’

STARRING NAOMI WATTS AND MATT DILLON

Original Media and Freight Yard Films Set to Produce,

Empyrean Pictures to finance

NEW YORK, NY – October 31, 2011 – Principal photography has begun on SUNLIGHT JR., it was announced today by Original Media’s Charlie Corwin and Freight Yard Films’ Andrea Roa. Filmed on location in southern Florida, the independent film stars Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon.

SUNLIGHT JR. is written and directed by Laurie Collyer (SHERRYBABY) and produced by Charlie Corwin (HALF NELSON, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE), Andrea Roa (BOOSTER) and Ariel Elia, who will produce on behalf of Empyrean. Joshua Skurla is on board as an Executive Producer, as are Billy Dietrich and Simon Fawcett, who arranged the financing.

The film follows two have-nots who have fallen through the cracks of society. Hard-working convenience store clerk Melissa (Naomi Watts) and her paraplegic boyfriend, Richie (Matt Dillon), are trapped in a generational cycle of poverty and ignorance. They are genuinely excited when they learn that Melissa is pregnant. But when she loses her job and they are evicted from the motel where they live, things go from bad to worse.

Dillon and Watts are both represented by CAA and Untitled. Collyer is represented by Gersh and Principato-Young. Her previous film, SHERRYBABY, earned Maggie Gyllenhaal a Golden Globe nomination for best actress.