Gerard Butler surfaces in 'Hunter Killer'

ButlerWith Gerard Butler generating strong reviews for his dramatic submit Relativity Media's "Machine Gun Preacher," the Scottish actor has reteamed using the studio that supported the love project, as he's in discussions to star in Antoine Fuqua's "Hunter Killer."In line with the novel "Firing Point" by George Wallace and Don Keith, story follows an untested submarine captain who must make use of a Navy SEAL team to save Russia's leader, who's taken prisoner throughout a military coup. The 2 sides team to prevent a rogue Russian general from stimulating World War III.Butler is within foretells play Capt. Joe Glass, the commander from the USS Toledo, while "Avatar" star Mike Worthington has been eyed for that role of Bill Beaman, the best choice of the special Navy SEAL unit known as the Dev Group.Original Film's Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are creating with Relativity Boss Ryan Kavanaugh. Relativity's lately marketed co-prexy Tucker Tooley will professional produce the pic, modified by Jamie Moss, John Kolvenbach and Arne Schmidt. Studio is presently focusing on a winter start date."Hunter Killer" is skedded to spread out 12 ,. 21, 2012, your day Disney would have opened up "Lone Ranger" prior to being pressed to May 31, 2013. Pic's current box office competition includes Paramount's Kaira Pitt starrer "World War Z," Fox 2000's "Existence of Pi" and Universal's untitled Judd Apatow comedy.Butler next stars in Rob Fiennes' "Coriolanus" and Relativity's untitled omnibus comedy from producers Peter Farrelly and Charles B. Wessler. Thesp lately wrapped Gabriele Muccino's soccer comedy "Playing the Area" and can soon begin filming Curtis Hanson's surfing pic "Of Males & Mavericks."Butler is repped by Alan Siegel Entertainment and CAA, that also reps Worthington and Fuqua. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com