Michael Keaton set for King Kong reboot Skull Island

Birdman star Michael Keaton is in talks to join the cast of Legendary Pictures' King Kong reboot Kong: Skull Island.

Keaton has been riding a tide of success this awards season thanks to his starring role in Alejandro Iñárritu's Birdman, and is expected to land an Oscar nomination next week.

He will star opposite Tom Hiddleston, best known for Thor and War Horse, and JK Simmons, who himself is expected to receive an Oscar nomination next week for his supporting role in Whiplash.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who impressed with his debut film The Kings of Summer, will direct from the script by Flight and Real Steel writer John Gatins and build on an early draft by Godzilla writer Max Borenstein.

Legendary Pictures will be using the template set by last year's Godzilla reboot for its new look at King Kong and the mysterious island he calls home. It has been speculated that it may be planning to crossover the series in the future.

The film's synopsis reads: "Kong: Skull Island will fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island. Legendary's story honours the foundations of existing King Kong lore, but places it in an entirely new, distinct timeline."

Kong: Skull Island will be released on 10 March 2017.

Source: Deadline.