The last time we reported on a planned biopic of elephant conservationist Daphne Sheldrick, it was the project's former writer and director Nick Cassavetes suing New Line over what he called broken promises for him to write and direct the film. Cassavetes is most definitely still not involved, but the movie, now retitled My Wild Life, is finally ready to get made. THR reports that Nicole Kidman is attached to star as Sheldrick, with Philip Noyce, most recently of the Angelina Jolie action vehicle Salt, set to direct.

The script is written by Jeff Stockwell, most recently behind Bridge to Terabithia and also an oddly similar sounding project Wilder Days. OK, that movie is actually similar at all-- it stars Peter Falk, Tim Daly and a very young Josh Hutcherson, if you can believe it-- but there will probably be IMDB confusion about it anyway. As for My WIld Life, the project actually at hand, it's no longer going to be based at New Line, the target of Cassavetes's lawsuit; according to THR Mandalay Films is taking it from New Line and is in negotiations with Universal to set up a domestic distribution deal, with an eye on a holiday season release date. Is that timed to get Kidman a third Oscar nomination? Or just the time of year you want to release a heartwarming story about a woman who devoted her life to rescuing elephants? Eh, probably a little bit of both.

Production is set to start early next year on location in Africa, and given that Sheldrick did much of her conservation work alongside her husband, there's a meaty role in there for a male actor as well. After spending so many years in development, it looks like we can count on seeing My Wild Life in theaters late next year.

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