Actor/recording star Justin Timberlake is keeping busy these days, venturing into exciting territory with two new projects: an untitled Woody Allen drama set in the 1950s; and the highly anticipated animated film Trolls.

The humorously irreverent musical Trolls, co-starring Zooey Deschanel, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, centers on creature dolls created by Danish woodcutter, Thomas Dam. The trolls’ playfully idyllic existence is threatened by the Bergin, a race of monsters who hunt the trolls as a coveted food source. The movie hits theaters on Nov. 4.

In addition to voicing the character of Branch in Trolls, Timberlake is also writing and recording songs for the film’s soundtrack.

Details about the Woody Allen movie, premiering next year, are sketchy but it’s an fascinating step for Timberlake, who has mostly done trendy mainstream flicks. His co-stars include Kate Winslet, Juno Temple and James Belushi.

Timberlake seems enthusiastic about continuing his acting career, but he’s in no hurry to rack up titles. He told Variety: “I’m kind of taking my time. I’m doing the Woody [Allen] movie in the fall, so that was unexpected. I think for the first time in my career I feel like I can slow down and be a little more patient.”

Timberlake also hopes to work again with his Social Network director, David Fincher. He has talked about how Fincher brings out the best in him, although it can be a challenging experience, saying: “Whenever he needs me, I am a masochist, and he is very good at being a sadist,” and adding, “I enjoy working with David so much because you go home at night after every day and go, ‘Well, I don’t think we could have tried anything else.’ You really feel like you left it on the floor.”