Disaster awaits Danny Glover, Thandie Newton

By Leslie Simmons and Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Danny Glover, Thandie Newton and Oliver Platt may be making a date with "2012."

The actors are in discussions to join "Godzilla" director Roland Emmerich's latest disaster movie. The Columbia project centers on the heroic struggle of the survivors of a global cataclysm.

Glover would play the president, with Newton in discussions to play his daughter. Platt would play the president's chief of staff. John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor already are on board.

"2012" was shopped around with a $200 million budget, but Columbia said it will be made for less than that. The studio is planning a July 10, 2009, release, with filming set to begin next month -- unless there is an actors strike.

Glover's recent credits include "Be Kind Rewind" and "Honeydripper." Newton is now filming Oliver Stone's "W," playing Condoleezza Rice. Platt is filming an untitled film for "Friends with Money" director Nicole Holofcener.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter