Ever since the hit that was Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the British director has been a hot name around Hollywood. His rumoured involvement in Star Trek 3 has been going on for months and a personal endorsement from series rebooter and trustee J. J. Abrams have only fueled that flame. But while Trekkies await word on that major announcement, Wyatt seems to be involved in something a little smaller and a little closer to being a done deal.

Deadline is reporting that Wyatt and mega-star Mark Wahlberg are in talks to remake the cult classic James Caan drama from 1974, The Gambler. According to the report, the remake will be produced by original producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff. Those guys sure do have a big attachment to this property.

The remake will come from a script from Academy Award-winning screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed). Monahan originally was writing the script for fellow The Departed-alums, director Martin Scorsese as a vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio, but those big names have since left the project and now it seems Wyatt and Wahlberg will be filling in their respective places.

DL is stressing that the deal is still in the works, but that it is “coming together quickly”.

If Wyatt is offered the Star Trek 3 gig, that would certainly put a hitch in his working on The Gambler, but there are certainly scenarios that would allow for Wyatt to work on both films.