Basinger joins Efron in 'St. Cloud'

Actress to play thesp's mother in Burr Steers drama

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Basinger

Kim Basinger is negotiating to join Zac Efron in "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," the Burr Steers-directed drama for Universal Pictures.

Basinger would play the grieving mother of Efron's character, a caretaker at a cemetery who has weekly meetings with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault. Efron stepped out of "Footloose" in March to re-unite with his "17 Again" director Steers on the project.

Pic was originally scripted by Craig Pearce and polished by Steers. Marc Platt is producing.

Basinger most recently starred with Charlize Theron in "The Burning Plain," the Guillermo Arriaga-directed drama that will be released Sept. 18.