Tarzan swinging back to the silver screen

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Warner Bros. studio is teaming up with U.S. producer Jerry Weintraub to bring Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan back to the big screen.

Director Guillermo del Toro is currently in negotiations for the new Tarzan flick, the Daily Variety reported Friday.

Also, the writer of "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" and "Happy Feet," John Collee, is negotiating to write the screenplay.

Weintraub's Jerry Weintraub Productions banner will produce the film, Variety said.

Tarzan has already starred in a number of live action and animated films, as well as radio and TV shows.

Del Toro said he feels classic themes are still compelling, and that there is new ground to cover in the Tarzan mythology.

"I'd love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it," Del Toro said. "There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment."