Bradley Cooper is stepping behind the camera, and he wants Beyonce to be his leading lady. The three-time Academy Award-nominated actor is in talks to make his directorial debut with Warner Brothers' long-in-development remake of A Star is Born. Based on the 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, the film centers on an aging, self-destructive actor who helps an aspiring actress achieve her dreams of stardom.

Cooper will also produce alongside Jon Peters, Billy Gerber and Basil Iwanyk, and Deadline reports that they have their eyes set on Beyonce Knowles for the female lead. Beyonce was previously courted for the picture when Clint Eastwood attached to direct. Eastwood tried to get the project off the ground at Warner Brothers for years, looking at a number of A-list actors for the male lead including Tom CruiseLeonardo DiCaprio, and Cooper himself. Eastwood's version of the film fell apart with Beyonce's pregnancy, and he moved on to direct the musical Jersey Boys. Cooper will take a pass at the script with screenwriter Will Fetters, who told us back in 2012 that his version of the story was inspired by Kurt Cobain.

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Image via Warner Brothers

It looks like Cooper is eager to get his hands on a directing gig. Back in January, we reported that the actor was looking to direct Honeymoon with Harry for New Line, but Cooper has a strong relationship with Warner Brothers, especially after leading American Sniper to the spot of highest-grossing film of 2014, and his production company with Todd Phillips has a first-look deal with the studio.

There have already been two remakes of the 1937 film. The 1954 version starring Judy Garland and James Mason was nominated for six Academy Awards, and Garland and Mason took home the Golden Globes for best actress and actor. The second remake, released in 1976, starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson and was nominated for four Academy Awards, taking home the gold for best original song.

Cooper's upcoming slate includes David O. Russell’s Joy, John Wells’ Adam Jones and Cameron Crowe’s Aloha. He is currently performing in a stage production of The Elephant Man, and will make his directorial debut top priority when the show wraps its London transfer from Broadway.

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Image via Magnolia Pictures