De Palma blasts off for 'Mars'

Sinise, Cheadle set to star in sci-fier

By DAN COX

After a month of negotiations, Brian De Palma has finally inked his deal to helm "Mission to Mars" for Hollywood Pictures.

Gary Sinise and Don Cheadle are set to star in the futuristic sci-fier, which is skedded to start shooting in June.

Though Gore Verbinski had been attached to direct, producer Tom Jacobson said De Palma was the perfect candidate for the job because he has an overwhelming passion for the study of Mars.

Pic will be De Palma's first sci-fi effort. He has helmed such widely diverse films as "Carrie," "The Untouchables," "Bonfire of the Vanities," "Mission: Impossible" and "Snake Eyes."