Although the project was said to have been eyed by Todd Phillips last year with Leonardo DiCaprio tentatively interested in starring, Variety is now reporting that Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt is in talks to take over the remake of Karel Reisz's The Gambler. Mark Wahlberg (himself an Apes franchise veteran) is said to be interested in starring.
First announced just over two years ago, the update of the 1974 film was, at that time, targeted by Martin Scorsese with The Departed's William Monahan providing the screenplay.
The original film starred James Caan as an English professor with a gambling addiction who falls into debt with the mob for $40,000. In over his head, his mother gives him some money, which he quickly tries to increase in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the odds never allow him to win or fully recover, so his future stays in the mob's hands.
Caan received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor for his performance. Lauren Hutton and Paul Sorvino co-starred.
Wahlberg, who starred earlier this year in Pain & Gain and 2 Guns, can be seen coming up in Lone Survivor before re-teaming with Michael Bay next summer for Transformers: Age of Extinction.
