Hot Topics:

Baruchel negotiating for 'Apprentice'

Cage plays sorcerer in Disney's live-action pic

Will Smith tackles Mideast mission

Hilary Swank to star in 'Resident'

Paramount acquires kid critic story

Jackson honored by Cinematheque

White House cold at Kennedy Center(3396 views)

Film composers lose luster(1464 views)

Zucker discusses Comcast deal(1410 views)

CBS cancels 'As the World Turns'(1405 views)

Focus to film 'Fela' feature(1241 views)

'Dexter' kills for Showtime(950 views)

Jay Baruchel is negotiating to play the title role in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" for Walt Disney Pictures. He joins Nicolas Cage, who plays the sorcerer in the Jon Turteltaub-directed live-action pic.

Jerry Bruckheimer is producing.

Baruchel, who co-starred in "Tropic Thunder," next plays the lead in the DreamWorks romantic comedy "She's Out of My League."

He's also attached to co-star with Seth Rogen in "Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse," a project they've set at Mandate Pictures. Baruchel is also lead voice in the DreamWorks animated film "How to Train Your Dragon."

Scripted by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal and rewritten by Matt Lopez, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" takes place in contemporary New York, where a wizard searches for an apprentice.

Cage, Saturn partner Norm Golightly and Todd Garner will be exec producers along with Chad Oman, Barry Waldman and Mike Stenson.