Frank Marshall, one of the busiest producers in town, is in negotiations to put on his director hat for the Walt Disney Co.'s adventure drama "Antarctica."

With Marshall entering a deal to direct and a tentative start date of late January on the schedule, "Antarctica" is heating up after being put on hold earlier this year.

The project was packaged for an April start, with Bruce Hendricks at the helm and Josh Duhamel starring. However, that version was put on hold because of weather concerns and rising production costs associated with shooting the movie in Greenland. It's likely that the current Marshall-directed "Antarctica" will shoot on location in Canada, but that has yet to become official.

Penned by David DiGilio with a polish by Mike Rich, "Antarctica" -- a remake of a Japanese film -- is a fact-based story about a pair of explorers who are forced to leave behind their team of sled dogs because of a brutal cold snap, then return to rescue them.

The film is being produced by studio-based Mandeville Films' David Hoberman, with the company's production topper Todd Lieberman executive producing along with Roy Lee, Christine Iso and Masaru Kakutani. At the studio, Kristin Burr and Josh Simon are overseeing.

Marshall, who received his fourth Academy Award nomination for producing "Seabiscuit" with partner Kathleen Kennedy, is repped by UTA and attorney Alan Hergott. "Antarctica" marks the first time he has directed a full-length feature film since 1995's "Congo." Kennedy and Marshall are producing "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Emma's War," "The Talisman" and the fourth Indiana Jones film. Their "Bourne Supremacy" is due for release July 23.

DiGilio, Rich and Lee also are repped by UTA.