LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment are set to topline the New Line Cinema comedy "Second Hand Lions," which Tim McCanlies ("The Iron Giant") will direct from his script.

The project is a coming-of-age story about a young boy (Osment) forced to spend the summer with two complete strangers -- his eccentric great-uncles (Duvall and Caine) who have mysterious, dangerous pasts.

"This is a phenomenal screenplay, one of the best I've ever read, and it's the kind of movie that is tough to define but many people will relate to," New Line president of production Toby Emmerich said. "It is similar to so many of the movies I loved growing up that were about relationships, movies like 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' and we are thrilled to have put together such a talented cast."

McCanlies said the project's cross-generational appeal and story make it unique.

"Nobody has ever seen a movie quite like this," he said. "It has a young protagonist, but it's not a kids movie, yet it will still appeal to kids."

"Lions" is being produced by David Kirschner, Corey Sienega, Karen Loop and Digital Domain. The project, which was brought to Digital Domain founder Scott Ross by the company's development executive Kevin Cooper, marks the Venice, Calif.-based visual effects facility's initial foray into live-action production.

New Line production executives Mark Kaufman, Cale Boyter and Janis Chaskin are overseeing for the studio. "Lions" will begin shooting in September in Texas.

The project reteams Caine with New Line, for whom he stars in the upcoming "Austin Powers in Goldmember." He is repped by ICM.

Duvall is also returning to the New Line fold, having recently starred in the studio's "John Q." The actor, repped by manager Rob Carliner, is shooting the Kevin Costner-directed "Open Range" for the Walt Disney Co.

Best known for his Oscar-nominated role in "The Sixth Sense," "Lions" marks Osment's first appearance in a New Line film. He is repped by Coast to Coast Talent Group.

Duvall, Caine, Osment lining up for "Lions"
Thu Jun 27, 4:48 AM ET
By David Bloom and Dana Harris

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - New Line's "Secondhand Lions" is ready to roar, with Oscar winners Robert Duvall and Michael Caine to star as eccentric great-uncles taking care of Oscar nominee Haley Joel Osment one summer.

The family-friendly drama will feature f/x sequences that detail the fantastic tales about the uncles' youthful past with which the men regale the boy.

Screenwriter Tim McCanlies ("The Iron Giant") will direct from his own script, as he did for "Dancer, Texas."

"It took 10 years to get this made," McCanlies said. "People always loved the script, but it sort of defied easy categorization."

"If you look on the Net, you'll see these lists of the best scripts that have never been made; this is one of them," producer David Kirschner said. "This is the kind of thing that made me want to make movies."

Still to be cast is the role of the boy's irresponsible mother, who fobs him off for the summer on her long-missing uncles, who have recently resurfaced with a lot of money.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in late September in Texas, with a release likely for late 2003 or early 2004.

Reuters/Variety