Steven Strait and Camilla Belle will star in "10,000 B.C.," a prehistoric epic that Roland Emmerich is directing for Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film centers on a young tribal mammoth hunter (Strait) at the dawn of modern man as he embarks on an epic journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his dying tribe. In the process, he saves the one he loves (Belle).

Production will begin in the spring in South Africa and Namibia.

Emmerich is producing with his Centropolis Entertainment partner Michael Wimer as well as Mark Gordon ("The Day After Tomorrow"). Harald Kloser, Tom Karnowski and Thomas Tull will serve as executive producers. Legendary Pictures will co-finance with Warners.

Emmerich and Kloser wrote the original script, based on an idea that Emmerich conceived 10 years ago. John Orloff (HBO's "Band of Brothers") and Matthew Sand wrote revisions, and the current script is written by Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan"). Warners will distribute worldwide.

Dan Lin is overseeing for the studio.

Belle, repped by CAA and Cristina Routh, appears in "When a Stranger Calls." Her credits include "The Chumscrubber" and "The Ballad of Jack and Rose."

Strait, repped by ICM, made his feature debut in the Walt Disney Co.'s "Sky High."