Jared Leto In Line To Lead "Brilliance"

THR says that Jared Leto ("Dallas Buyers Club") is in early talks to take over the lead role in the film adaptation of author Marcus Sakey's novel "Brilliance". Will Smith recently dropped out of doing the film. The dreaded scheduling conflict is the reason given for the exit.

The story takes place in a world where a rare set of people are born with extraordinary abilities and are called “brilliants.” At the center of the story is federal agent Nick Cooper (Leto) with great hunting gifts who is drafted to hunt down a terrorist, another such brilliant who intends to start a civil war.

Noomi Rapace joined the film shortly before Smith Left.

 David Koepp was hired to pen the adapted script. Koepp has penned such successful movie adaptations as Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park and Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie among others. Julius Onah ("God Particle") will direct the film.

Joe Roth ("Alice in Wonderland" and Oz The Great and Powerful) and Palak Patel will produce the film.

The plan was to start filming in August, no word if that's still the case.

The book is the first in a planned trilogy meaning there's a potential franchise here.