Popular director Robert Luketic seems to have lined up his next project, despite his attachment to the long-gestating "Dallas" adaptation. "21" is based on a non-fiction book about a bunch of math geeks who figure out a way to rob a casino blind.

Says The Hollywood Reporter: "Robert Luketic is in negotiations to direct "21" for Columbia Pictures. The helmer, who had been prepping to direct the big-screen version of the '80s soap "Dallas" for Regency Enterprises / 20th Century Fox, likely would make "21" his next project. It is unclear how Luketic's negotiations with Columbia will affect his involvement in "Dallas" or the ongoing casting of the ensemble film. "21," based on Ben Mezrich's best-selling nonfiction book "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions," revolves around a group of young men who become experts in the art of card counting."

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Luketic's films include "Legally Blonde," "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!," and "Monster-in-Law."