SUBMITTED BY Scooby

October 3, 2002 — Disney has begun official negotiations with Billy Bob Thornton to play the role of Davy Crockett, one of the more heroic roles in The Alamo.

Shooting will begin in January under the direction of The Rookie helmer John Lee Hancock. With a budget of $75 million, the studio hopes to have it in theaters for the 2003 holidays.

Sometime within the next weeks, Disney will reapproach Ethan Hawke for the role of William Travis, a scoundrel who wound up a hero in the siege. The studio will also reaffirm whether Russell Crowe would like to play the role of Sam Houston.

If Crowe passes on the project, Disney might approach Viggo Mortensen, who starred in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and just finished the Joe Johnston-directed Disney Western, Hidalgo.