Justin Timberlake and Cillian Murphy are in talks to star opposite Amanda Seyfried in Andrew Niccol's sci-fi drama "I'm.mortal," an individual familiar with the project and Murphy's publicist have separately confirmed to TheWrap.
The story is set in the near-future where the aging gene is turned off at age 25. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency, allowing the rich to live forever, and forcing the rest to negotiate for their survival.
Timberlake will play a poor man from the ghetto who kidnaps a beautiful heiress (Seyfried) and goes on the run after being falsely accused of murdering a wealthy man for his time.
Murphy will play Timekeeper Leon, a law enforcement officer described as "precise as the time he keeps."
Timberlake the Actor has been coming on strong as of late, and I think this genre movie is yet another smart decision. Niccol ("Gattaca") is a great sci-fi director and Seyfried is one of the most talented actresses of her generation. I expect them to make a really interesting onscreen pair, and I love the idea of Murphy hunting them down with that icy stare of his, which served him well as the villain of both "Red Eye" and "Batman Begins."
20th Century Fox and New Regency are teaming on the project, and Marc Abraham and Eric Newman's Strike Entertainment will also produce the film, which is expected to begin production at the end of September.
Timberlake recently wrapped Columbia Pictures' comedy "Bad Teacher," and is currently filming Screen Gems' "Friends With Benefits" with Mila Kunis. He next stars in Columbia's "The Social Network" and Warner Bros.' animated movie "Yogi Bear."
Murphy recently starred opposite Ellen Page in a pair of psychological thrillers -- "Peacock" and "Inception."
Timberlake is represented by WME, while CAA represents Murphy.
