Stuart Beattie writing epic for Luhrmann

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LOS ANGELES, April 13 (UPI) -- Screenwriter Stuart Beattie ("Collateral") will write a period epic set in his native Australia for director Baz Luhrmann.

The Hollywood Reporter described the project as a romance along the lines of "Gone With the Wind," but said details are being kept under wraps. The project seems to be part of a trio of epic films Luhrmann has talked about making -- including a film about the life of Alexander the Great and a Russian epic.

The Reporter said Luhrmann had been developing "Alexander" for Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, but apparently has put the project on the shelf.

Luhrmann has called his three movie musicals -- "Strictly Ballroom" (1992), "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet" (1996) and "Moulin Rouge" (2001) his Red Curtain trilogy.

Beattie's screenwriting credits also include "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and the upcoming Clive Owen-Jennifer Aniston drama "Derailed."