Casting Bits: Dwayne Johnson Could Be Sinbad In 'Arabian Nights'; Julia Roberts May Play Meryl Streep's Daughter In 'August: Osage County'

Casting Bits: Dwayne Johnson Could Be Sinbad In ‘Arabian Nights’; Julia Roberts May Play Meryl Streep’s Daughter In ‘August: Osage County’

Got a couple of casting possibilities for you guys to mull over, starting withDwayne Johnsonplaying the character of Sinbad inArabian Nights, the$70 million 3D ‘spin’on the classic collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian folk tales and stories referred to outside of the US asOne Thousand and One Nights.

After the break, more onArabian Nights, and info about a potential new project for ‘the Streep’.

Chuck Russell, ofThe Blobremake,The Mask,Eraser, andA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, is directing the film. Russell also worked with Johnson onThe Scorpion King, so whenProduction Weeklysays that the actor has been “mentioned” for the role, that’s probably where the connection is coming from.

This rendition of the stories follows “a young commander who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.“Liam Hemsworth, brother of Chris Hemsworth (Thor), will play the young commander, andAnthony Hopkinsis in the film as “an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself.”

Next up,Risky Businessis reporting that negotiations are underway forMeryl StreepandJulia Robertsto star in the feature adaptation ofTracy Letts’ Pulitzer-winning playAugust: Osage County.

The film will be a prestige pic that follows the play closely, with a screenplay also written by Letts. The story revolves around a troubled family coping with the loss of its patriarch. Julia Roberts would play the eldest daughter, whose estranged husband had an affair with one of his student, and Meryl Streep would be the drug-addicted mother.

Directing the film isJohn Wells, who recently made hisdirectorial debutwithThe Company Men.

The Weinstein Co. is priming the film as an awards contender, so it’s no surprise that Streep and Roberts are two of the first actors they’ve turned to for leading roles.