'A Star Is Born' Is Born Again

Joel Schumacher ("Batman Forever") has come aboard to develop, with an eye toward directing, Warner Bros. Pictures' remake of "A Star Is Born," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The remake of the classic drama is being produced by Jon Peters, and there have been discussions with Will Smith to take on a starring role.

"Star," the story of an up-and-coming actress who falls in love with an accomplished actor only to surpass the actor as his star falls, has been successful in several incarnations.

The original 1937 version was directed by William A. Wellman and earned Oscar nominations for stars Fredric March and Janet Gaynor, while writers Robert Carson and Wellman won an Oscar for best writing, original story.

A 1954 remake directed by George Cukor garnered two more acting Oscar nominations for stars James Mason and Judy Garland.

In 1976, producer Peters and director Frank Pierson offered a more rock 'n' roll take on the story with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starring as musicians as opposed to actors.

It remains to be seen what Schumacher's take on the material will be.