Variety says darabont is in talks to take on the project.
The book was previously brought to the big screen by French New Wave auteur Francois Truffaut in 1966, with a cast that included Julie Christie, Oskar Werner and Cyril Cusack. The film has been in development for years as an intended project for Mel Gibson. Initially, the project could only find financing if Gibson both directed and starred, as fireman Guy Montag, who begins to question the burning of subversive material in the dystopian storyline. Variety said Gibson felt he was too old for the part and wanted only to direct the film. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were both approached about the lead, but passed.