For a while there it really looked like Fox's Dallas adaptation was going to be directed by Legally Blonde filmmaker Robert Luketic, but the guy left the project thanks to "creative differences," which enabled Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha to step into the gig. Ms. Chada is already hard at work on a big-screen adaptation of I Dream of Jeannie.

Says Variety: ""Bend It Like Beckham" helmer Gurinder Chadha is close to inking a deal to direct 20th Century Fox and New Regency's bigscreen version of "Dallas." She replaces Robert Luketic, who fell off the project over creative issues.

Jennifer Lopez, Luke Wilson, John Travolta and Shirley MacLaine will star.

Script was written by Robert Harling, with drafts by Sacha Gervasi. Series creator David Jacobs is producing the pic with Michael Costigan. While Fox will release "Dallas," New Regency is financing the project."