Drake Doremus wants Kristen & Nicholas Hoult for his new film 'Equals'

Deadline Drake Doremus is casting up his next film Equals for an early 2014 start, and I hear he is courting The Twilight Saga‘s Kristen Stewart and Warm Bodies and X-Men: Days Of Future Past star Nicholas Hoult to be the young couple that anchors this science fiction tale penned by Nathan Parker (Moon). Doremus talked up the project while doing press for Breathe In, the most recent film he helmed that stars his Like Crazy heroine Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Amy Ryan.

Indian Paintbrush, Steven Rales’ production/financing company that forged a relationship with Doremus on Like Crazy, is backing the film.

Stewart is repped by Gersh and Hoult by UTA and 42.

TheFilmStage  Scripted by Nathan Parker (Moon), we first got a glimpse of Equals during an interview this summer when Doremus said he wants to “maintain the elements of the intimacy while doing something bigger and different.” Deadline now have an update on who will be getting intimate, as Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, Jack the Giant Slayer) are in talks to lead the project.

Unfortunately there’s not a great amount of additional details, but Doremus has said there will be special effects involved and added, “I’m really excited to explore a whole new thing while bringing my own passions to it and that’s what’s exciting about collaborating with someone who’s doing something totally different to you as together you can create something very original and unique by bringing different elements to the table.”

Check back for more information as it come in for what’s looking to be a major step-up in scope for the director.

Production begins in early 2014 for a likely 2015 release.

ThePlayList Doremus is eyeing Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult to star in "Equals," a futuristic love story he's cooking up.  Penned by Nathan Parker ("Moon"), there's not much in the way of plot details, but the director has long been discussing his goals for the movie. " 'Like Crazy' was about the past and had a very nostalgic feel to it, and kind of about my past. ['Breathe In'] is about confronting the idea of love in the present, and then what love means in the future is what I’m interested in exploring next,” he told told Movies.com earlier this year.

"It’s not going to be out of hand, but I think it’s a logical next step, if that makes any sense without giving too much away, of the budget realm," Doremus told Little White Lies about the size of the movie.

Frankly, we're pretty excited. Doremus has shown a really assured hand so far for tone and style, and to see him apply that to a genre effort is something we're curious to see. If it all comes together, shooting will kick off in early 2014.

TheWrap Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are attached to star in Drake Doremus’ next film “Equals,” an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Nathan Parker (“Moon”) wrote “Equals,” which marks a departure for Doremus as it’s a sci-fi love story. The duo have spent the past year developing the project, which Steven Rales’ Indian Paintbrush is planning to put into production early next year.

Doremus is coming off the infidelity drama “Breathe In,” which stars Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Amy Ryan and Mackenzie Davis. He has a strong rapport with Indian Paintbrush, which produced and financed his breakout film “Like Crazy.”

“Twilight” sensation Stewart next stars in the indies “Camp X-Ray” and “Sils Maria.” She’s repped by Gersh and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.