Actor Steve Buscemi is in negotiations to join the comedy Burt Wonderstone for New Line Cinema and director Don Scardino.

Steve Buscemi is in talks to portray Anton, the magician partner of Steve Carell's title character. After Anton is injured during their "Hotbox" trick, he packs up and heads to India to teach magic. Burt Wonderstone tries to convince Anton to return when a new street magician (Jim Carrey) starts turning heads. James Gandolfini also stars as the owner of a casino where Burt and Anton perform. Actresses such as Olivia Wilde and Sarah Silverman are in contention for the female lead, Burt and Anton's assistant.

Don Scardino is directing Burt Wonderstone from a screenplay by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein. We reported in June that Jason Reitman will also work on the screenplay.

Production is scheduled to start in January, when Steve Buscemi is on hiatus from Boardwalk Empire.