Back in March, we reported that a reboot of the 1990 sci-fi thriller Flatliners is gearing up to start filming this summer, with Ellen Page, Diego Luna and Nina Dobrev attached to star. It was never clear if the filmmakers had planned on reaching out to original cast members such as Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon, but today we have word that Kiefer Sutherland is closing his deal to co-star in the rebooted thriller. The deal isn't finalized yet, but the actor has committed to the project.

The original film followed a group of medical students and close friends who conduct experiments with near death experiences. Each one of them has their heart stopped before being revived instantly, which causes them to experience nightmarish visions of their childhood, reflecting either sins they have committed, or sins committed against them. Their unorthodox extracurricular studies have very dark consequences, as their supernatural visions begin to intensify. The original cast also included Oliver Platt and William Baldwin.

This new cast is being described as 'more inclusive' and international. Nina Dobrev is portraying Marlo, an overachieving student who is at the top of her class, although no details were given for the other characters quite yet. The reboot cast also includes James Norton and Kiersey Clemons, with Kiefer Sutherland said to be playing a "seasoned doctor," according to this report from Deadline.

Niels Arden Oplev (Dead Man Down) is directing from a script by Ben Ripley (Source Code). The writer actually started his career by writing sequels to another 90s sci-fi classic, the Species follow-ups Species III and Species: The Awakening. Michael Douglas, who produced the original Flatliners, is back to produce the remake, alongside Laurence Mark.

Production is scheduled to begin in Toronto later this week on this sci-fi reboot. The producers and Sony Pictures had to work out scheduling conflicts with Kiefer Sutherland's new ABC TV series Designated Survivor, so he could shoot both Flatliners and his new series at the same time. The actor can currently be seen in Forsaken, where he stars alongside his father Donald Sutherland, and he is also producing Fox's 24: Legacy reboot.