Ratner rolls 'Vegas' dice
Helmer will be pit boss for MGM
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Project is based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction bestseller "Bringing Down the House," about six M.I.T. students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.
MGM acquired the rights to the book in 2002.
Peter Steinfeld, who wrote "Be Cool," the Lion's sequel to "Get Shorty," penned the adaptation, which could start lensing in early 2005.
The project's been in search of a new name since Disney's Touchstone laffer "Bringing Down the House" hit big at the B.O., and has been known by a number of different titles, including "21," "Beat the House," "The System" and "Beginner's Luck."
Spacey and his Trigger Street Prods shingle will produce "Breaking Vegas," with the company's Dana Brunetti.
Spacey is eyeing the supporting role of the students' M.I.T. professor.
MGM's Elizabeth Cantillon and Stephanie Palmer will shepherd the project at the Lion.
Studio is looking to put "Breaking Vegas" on the fast track with Ratner developing the project as one of his future directing gigs.
But Ratner will first helm Fox's "Josiah's Canon," with Sean Connery, making that heist actioner his next directing gig since New Line's upcoming "After the Sunset," starring Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek.
Ratner, who is also prepping New Line's third installment of the "Rush Hour" franchise, has signed up to helm several projects at various studios around town after ankling Warner Bros.' "Superman."
He's also attached to helm two untitled pitches set up at Sony, including one by scribes David Diamond and David Weissman, with Neal Moritz producing, and another by Lisa Schrager, that Michael De Luca will produce.
