Kim Basinger joins Efron in 'Charlie St. Cloud'

Kim Basinger is set to join Zac Efron in Burr Steers' upcoming drama "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," with Universal Pictures developing the project.

Based on the novel by Ben Sherwood, the film follows Efron as a cemetary caretaker who meets weekly with a younger brother, who recently died.

Variety says Basinger will play the grieving mother of the lead character. Also starring as Efron's love interest is Amanda Crew.

Basinger's more recent credits include "Cellular," "The Sentinel" and "The Burning Plain." Good to have her back on the big screen.

BTW, "Cloud" marks Efron's second collaboration with the director after "17 Again.

Zac Efron in talks to head to 'St. Cloud'

Zac Efron is in talks to star in Burr Steers' upcoming big-screen adaptation of Ben Sherwood's novel "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud."

Variety says the story follows a caretaker at a cemetary who meets weekly "with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault."

Craig Pearce wrote the original screenplay, which Steers is revising. If Efron joined "Cloud," it would mark his second collaboration with the director after "17 Again," which opens April 17, 2009.

Efron was attached to star in the upcoming remake of "Footloose," but he recently dropped out. The actor was last seen in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."

Other Efron credits include "Me and Orson Welles," and "Hairspray." Steers also directed "Igby Goes Down" in 2002.