Aside from lining up some work with Terrence Malick on his next untitled film and making sure he can still fit into the Bat suit for whenever Christopher Nolan is ready to start making the latest trip to Gotham City, Christian Bale’s schedule is largely full of vapourware projects that show no sign yet of developing into Actual Films. But he may now be filling some of that time on war drama The Last Photograph, which Zach Snyder is producing.

Photograph has been a pet project of the Watchmen/Sucker Punch director for some time now. Announced back in 2007, it’s based on an original idea from Snyder's own brain, which cooked up the scenario of a war photograph that sparks two men to travel through conflict-ravaged Afghanistan. Given that the war in the country shows no sign of letting up, it’s still topical, though development has largely been quiet aside from 300 writer Kurt Johnstad signing on to write the script and Mongol director Sergey Bodrov agreeing to make the movie.

Now, Pajiba reports that Bale is stepping into one of the lead roles and there might be a change at the helm, with word that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s Niels Arden Oplev is a frontrunner to take over the megaphone. But that part is simply a rumour at this juncture, even if it does make for an exciting proposition. While the film is still loosely scheduled for 2013, we’re not holding our collective breath given its slow process so far. Still, Bale jumping aboard could give it a little more momentum…

Update: Welp, that didn't take long. Snyder's representatives got in touch with FirstShowing to shoot the story down to Bale having read the script but not committed to a role. Which doesn't mean he won't, but right now his association with the film must be demoted back down to a rumour.