According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen) is in early talks to direct the casino-set thriller 21 for MGM. Brett Ratner had been attached to helm the project, but he took over directing duties on 20th Century Fox's X-Men 3 in June after Bryan Singer and later Matthew Vaughn exited the third installment of the mutant franchise.

The story, based on Ben Mezrich's best-selling nonfiction tome "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.