Liev Schreiber 'in talks' to play X-Men baddie

Scream star Liev Schreiber is in negotiations to play the villainous William Stryker in a new Wolverine-themed film, it has emerged.

According to Variety, Schreiber may take on the role for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is set for release in May 2009.

The movie is expected to feature Hugh Jackman as the adamantium-boned mutant, while Schreiber's character is an evil mastermind set on destroying the X-Men.

Filming is due to start shortly in New Zealand and New Orleans, with Gavin Hood at the helm - a director who recently worked on spy thriller Rendition and the South African crime drama Tsotsi.

Meanwhile, Schreiber celebrated the birth of his child this year - a son named Alexander Pete - with 21 Grams actress Naomi Watts.

Schreiber starred in all three Scream films and also has a number of critical successes on his CV, including The Manchurian Candidate, The Sum Of All Fears and Ransom.

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