Oldman grabs 'Yard' job

Thesp will appear with Sandler, Reynolds in redo

By DAVE MCNARY, DANA HARRIS

Oldman

HOLLYWOOD -- Gary Oldman will portray the sadistic warden in the Paramount/Sony remake of "The Longest Yard."

Oldman's in negotiations to star opposite Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds and Chris Rock in the pic, being produced by Sandler's Happy Madison Prods. and MTV Films.

Sandler portrays a football player-turned-convict who organizes inmates to play against a team of prison guards. The warden asks him to throw the game in return for an early release.

In the original 1974 picture, Eddie Albert portrayed the warden.

Production will begin in July at the Old State Penitentiary in New Mexico, with Peter Segal directing. Sheldon Turner and Tim Herlihy have penned versions of the script.

Sandler is producing with Happy Madison partner Jack Giarraputo, MTV Films prexy Van Toffler and exec VP David Gale.

Oldman will next be seen in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." He's also shooting "Batman Begins."