Daily news dose: Sam Worthington is 'The Candidate;' James Mangold to direct 'Little Words'

Here is your dose of film news for July 23, 2009:

• Sam Worthington has signed on to star in Summit's upcoming "The Candidate," a remake of 2008's Danish thriller "Kanditaten." Beau Willimon, whose credits include "Farragut North," will write the script, which centers on a lawyer who mysteriously wakes up in a hotel room and vaguely remembers the woman he met the night before. Next thing he knows, she's dead, and he's being blackmailed for her murder. Worthington, who will soon star in "Clash of the Titans," was last seen in "Terminator Salvation."(Variety)

• James Mangold is in talks to direct "Three Little Words," the big-screen adaptation of Ashley Rhodes-Courter's memoir. The story follows the author's traumatic childhood in foster care. Mangold's credits also include "Walk the Line" and "3:10 to Yuma." Mangold has also been in talks to direct an untitled project starring Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise. (Variety)

• Bruce Lee's family is ready to co-develop a three-part biopic about the martial arts hero, who passed away 36 years ago. Variety says the first part of "Bruce Lee" will carry a $7.3 million budget, with a release date planned for Nov. 27, 2010. No director has been announced yet, but Tony Leung Ka-fai will appear in the project as Lee's father. Lee's brother Robert recently said he wants audiences to see who the great Bruce Lee really was.

• Ryuhei Kitamura is set to direct "Magdalena" for Valhalla Motion Pictures and Platinum Studios. Based on the Top Cow comic book character, the story follows Magdalena, descendant of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, who can look into the hearts of humans and offer them the choice to redeem their sins. Jenna Dewan from "Step Up" and Luke Goss are in talks to star in the project. Kitamura's credits include "Midnight Meat Train" and "Godzilla: Final Wars." (Variety)

• Uma Thurman is set to star in Caspian Pictures' "Girl Soldier," a drama based on the book "Stolen Angels" by Kathy Cook. The story centers on a 1996 boarding school raid in Uganda that resulted in the abduction of 140 schoolgirls by a group of armed rebels. Thurman will play a nun who follows the rebels to their camp and demands the release of the girls. Will Raee will direct the film from a script by Stephanie Pinola and Karen Croner. (Variety)