Max Borenstein to write 'Art of the Steal'

Zac Efron's recent drama "Charlie St. Cloud" wasn't exactly a hit, but that doesn't mean we won't get to see the star on the big screen anymore. On the contrary, he's got tons of projects in development right now.

One of them is "Art of the Steal," set up at Warner Bros. Efron is in talks to star in the film, and he'll even produce it. Variety also reports Max Borebstein will write the screenplay based on a Wired article.

The plot of "Steal" follows a smart con man who plans to pull off big heists all while leading a double life as a respectable citizen. Borenstein's upcoming projects include "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and "Jimi."

Taylor Schilling boards Zac Efron's 'Lucky'

Taylor Schilling has been cast opposite Zac Efron in "The Lucky One," the Warner Bros. adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel. Will Fetters penned the screenplay, and Denise Di Novi is producing.

In the book, Sparks tells the story of a Marine who's in Iraq and carries a photograph of a mysterious woman he has never met. He eventually decides to track her down upon his return to North Carolina.

Scott Hicks ("The Boys Are Back") will direct the film. Schilling is known for her role as Veronica Flanagan Callahan on TV's "Mercy." She's also got "Atlas Shrugged" coming soon. (Source: Variety)

Zac Efron is 'The Lucky One' for Warner Bros.

Zac Efron is in talks to play the lead in the Warner Bros. adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' bestseller "The Lucky One." Will Fetters penned the screenplay, and Denise Di Novi is among the film's producers.

In the book, Sparks tells the story of a Marine who's in Iraq and carries a photograph of a mysterious woman he has never met. He eventually decides to track her down upon his return to North Carolina.

Variety also says Scott Hicks may end up directing the romantic drama. Hicks last directed "The Boys Are Back." Efron will next star in "Charlie St. Cloud." He's also got a couple of untitled projects in the works.

Casting alerts: Haley Joel Osment, Zac Efron...

Care for casting? Here is the latest in casting news from Hollywood and elsewhere:

• Haley Joel Osment ("The Sixth Sense," "Home of the Giants") is returning to the big screen in "Sex Ed," a comedy following a college graduate who ends up teaching sexual education. Only problem: he's still a virgin. He then meets a crazy mentor and hot Polish chick. Isaac Feder is helming Billy Kennedy's script.

• Zac Efron has joined an untitled workplace comedy developed by Jason Filardi, the guy who also wrote "17 Again." Efron is also producing the flick. No specific details about the film are available at this point. The "High School Musical" actor will next be seen in "Charlie St. Cloud," due in theaters July 30, 2010.

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Zac Efron to star in 'Snabba cash' remake

Zac Efron is in talks to star in a Hollywood remake of Sweden's hit movie "Snabba cash," and Warner Bros. is on board to develop the project. Efron, who may be cast in one of the lead roles, will also produce the film. The original was based on a novel by Jens Lapidus.

The Hollywood Reporter says the story follows a young man who hopes for financial glory by becoming the runner for a coke dealer. Could this really be a serious role for Efron, who recently starred in "17 Again" and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year?" He will also soon be seen in "Charlie St. Cloud."

Latest from Hollywood: Mandy Moore is 'Rapunzel;' Release set for 'Orson Welles' & more

• Mandy Moore will be lending her voice to "Rapunzel" in Walt Disney Pictures' upcoming 3D-animated musical, which Byron Howard and Nathan Greno are directing. Zachary Levi from "Chuck" has also been cast, and the music will come from Oscar winner Alan Menken. (via Heat Vision)

• Richard Linklater's "Me and Orson Welles," which stars Zac Efron and Claire Danes, has a release date: Nov. 25, 2009. The film follows a high school student noticed by Orson Welles at the Mercury Theater. He later lands a part in "Julius Caesar" at the production that catapulted Welles to the top... (Variety)

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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 'Me and Orson Welles' trailer

A first teaser trailer for Richard Linklater's upcoming drama "Me and Orson Welles" with Zac Efron and Claire Danes is now online, and you can check it out after the jump.

Set in 1937, the story centers on a high school student who happens upon the yet-to-open Mercury Theatre and is noticed by its mercurial founder, Orson Welles. The man lands a part in "Julius Caesar," the production that catapulted Welles to the top...

This is just a quick look at the flick, but let me tell you, I'm somewhat intrigued. I'm not the biggest Zac Efron fan, but I usually enjoy Linklater's films. This looks interesting.

Ben Chaplin, Eddie Marsan and Kelly Reilly co-star. "Me and Orson Welles" will hit theaters this fall.

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Daily news dose: David Fincher to direct Facebook flick?; 'Dark Knight' wins big at Saturn Awards

Here is your dose of film news for June 25, 2009:

• David Fincher is in talks to direct "The Social Network," a film about the popular social networking Web site Facebook. Aaron Sorkin, whose credits include "The West Wing" and "Charlie Wilson's War," wrote the script. The project will center on the creation process and the following success of the site, which Mark Zuckerberg launched at Harvard. (Variety)

• Zac Efron is set to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures. Leslie Dixon is writing the script, but plot details are strictly kept under wraps. Efron, whose credits also include "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," recently starred in "17 Again." No director is on-board yet. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Dorian Missick, whose credits include "Six Degrees" and "Freedomland," is the latest to join Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler in Columbia's comedy "Bounty Hunter." The film follows a bounty hunter hired to find and bring in his ex-wife because she skipped bail. (The Hollywood Reporter)

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Daily news dose: Lucy Punch joins Woody Allen flick; 'Twilight' wins big at MTV Movie Awards

Here's your dose of film news for June 1, 2009:

• Lucy Punch, whose credits include "The Class" and "Hot Fuzz," will replace Nicole Kidman in Woody Allen's upcoming film. Plot details are still kept under wraps, but the cast also includes Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and Josh Brolin. (Variety)

• Halle Berry is in negotiations to star in Paul Verhoeven's "The Surrogate," a thriller based on the book by Kathryn Mackel. The story follows a couple who discovers the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is completely nuts. Berry last starred in "Things We Lost in the Fire." (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road") is almost set to star in "The Runaways," the biopic of the popular girl rock band. He's joining Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart. The plot will focus on the formation of The Runaways all the way to the end of their career as a group. (THR)

• Because I don't think the MTV Movie Awards deserve a separate entry, here are some winners: "Twilight" wins best movie; Kristen Stewart wins best actress; Zac Efron wins best actor; Heath Ledger wins best villain (only decent outcome); and Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson win the award for best kiss. Yeah, the MTV Movie Awards suck indeed.