Anton Yelchin is the latest to join Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster in Foster's latest directing gig "The Beaver," a dark comedy for Summit Entertainment. Kyle Killen penned the script.

Gibson gets to play a crazy dude who starts walking around with a beaver puppet, which he treats just like a human. Foster will star as his (poor) wife, and Variety says Yelchin plays their son. Jennifer Lawrence co-stars as well.

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Oscar winner Mel Gibson is set to star in Jodie Foster's latest directing gig "The Beaver" from a script by Kyle Killen, according to Variety.

Gibson gets to play a crazy dude who starts walking around with a beaver puppet, which he treats just like a human. Foster will star as his (poor) wife.

"The Beaver" marks Foster's third job as director; she previously helmed "Little Man Tate" and "Home for the Holidays." She was last seen onscreen in the disappointing adventure flick "Nim's Island."

As for Gibson, he's got Martin Campbell's cop drama "Edge of Darkness" coming up soon. "Beaver" sounds like a cool idea, and I guess Gibson is just the right guy to play the crazed lead.

BTW: Steve Carell was originally attached to the role, with Jay Roach in talks to direct.

Ray Winstone is set to replace Robert De Niro in Martin Campbell's upcoming thriller "Edge of Darkness," according to Variety.

Last week, De Niro dropped out of the project because of what his spokesperson called creative differences. Principal photography has been under way since August. 

Winstone will take over the role of an operative sent to clean up evidence in the murder of  a young woman. Mel Gibson stars as the girl's father, who discovers her secret life after he death.

Also starring are Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts and Bojana Novakovic. Campbell is directing a script by William Monahan and Andrew Bovell.

Winstone recently starred in "Beowulf" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." His upcoming projects include "The Cup" and "The Sweeney."

Robert De Niro is staying away from the “Edge of Darkness.” According to Variety, the actor has officially dropped out of the Martin Campbell-directed thriller, which launched into principal photography two weeks ago.

A spokesman for De Niro said he exited the project due to creative differences. That’s all we know at this stage, but it strongly sounds like someone didn't get what he wanted. Hmm...

De Niro was expected to play an operative sent to clean up evidence in the murder of  a young woman. Mel Gibson stars as the girl's father, who discovers her secret life after he death.

Also starring are Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts and Bojana Novakovic.

De Niro will next be seen in Jon Avnet's "Righteous Kill," followed by the Hollywood satire "What Just Happened?"

• The Hollywood Reporter says Nicholas Cage and John Carpenter may join forces to develop “Scared Straight,” a thriller about a convict forced to help free a hostage held inside a prison. Ron Brinkerhoff rewrote the original script by Joe Gazzam.  

• Aline Brosh McKenna, screenwriter of “The Devil Wears Prada,” has been hired to write the script for “The Ivy Chronicles,” which will star Sarah Jessica Parker as an upper-middle class mother who is forced to move into a cheap downtown apartment after losing her job and getting divorced. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• According to Variety, Robert De Niro is in talks to star alongside Mel Gibson in Martin Campbell’s crime drama “Edge of Darkness.” Gibson plays a homicide detective who discovers his daughter’s secret life after she’s murdered on the steps of his house. De Niro would star as an operative sent to clean up any kind of evidence.

• Variety also reports Rob Cohen’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” opened with $15.3 million Friday, beating Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” which took in $12.6 million. “The Mummy Returns” collected $23.4 million on its opening day in 2001.