-By Jay A. Fernandez and Steven Zeitchik

Matt Damon is in discussions to star in Ethan and Joel Coen's remake of "True Grit." Josh Brolin, who starred in the brothers' "No Country for Old Men," is also in talks for a major role.

Paramount Pictures and the Oscar-winning writer-director team are moving fast on their re-adaptation of the Charles Portis novel, first reaching out to Jeff Bridges, and now Damon and Brolin, to potentially star. Damon would take on the Glen Campbell role of a Texas Ranger tracking an outlaw along with a gruff U.S. marshal originally played by John Wayne, who won an Oscar for his role in the 1969 Western.

All three actors are in discussions with the studio, which hopes to move into production in the spring. The story concerns a 14-year-old girl traveling into dangerous territory with the two lawmen in search of the man who murdered her father, who Brolin would play.

Bridges and Brolin have worked with the Coens before, but Damon is new to their coterie of actors. Bridges famously portrayed Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in the Brothers' comic noir, "The Big Lebowski," in 1998. Presumably, the new role will involve fewer acid flashbacks and bowling montages.

And Brolin played the doomed Llewelyn Moss in "No Country," based on the Cormac McCarthy novel.

Scott Rudin, who produced the Best Picture winner "No Country," is producing "Grit" as well, along with Steven Spielberg. Focus Features recently released the Coens' latest film, "A Serious Man," after premiering it at the Toronto film festival last month.

The WME-repped Damon recently starred in "The Informant!" and will next appear in Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" in December.

The WME-repped Brolin recently starred in "W." and "Milk." He is currently shooting Oliver Stone's "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" and will next star in Warner Bros.' "Jonah Hex" in June.
-Nielsen Business Media