U.S. pop star Justin Timberlake met recently with a convicted murderer because his director wanted him to meet the man he is to play in an upcoming film.

Teen Hollywood reported that director Nick Cassavetes, who is directing the movie "Alpha Dog," insisted that Timberlake meet the jailed killer who is known to be responsible for a 2000 kidnap and murder.

Timberlake described the convict as a normal guy who just made a bad decision.

"Nick and I traveled to upstate California and I sat down with him at the prison and spoke to him for a couple of hours," Timberlake said.

"He was a person who was very misunderstood and very remorseful, but you get one life to do things right and he didn't."