Just weeks after Russell Crowe dropped out of writer-director Baz Luhrmann's untitled period epic, fellow Australian Hugh Jackman has signed on to replace the mercurial star.

Jackman will star opposite Nicole Kidman in the 20th Century Fox romantic action-adventure set in northern Australia before World War II. The film centers on an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a ranch the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle driver (Jackman) to drive 2,000 head of cattle across the country's most unforgiving landscape, only to face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces.

The Tony Award-winning actor ("The Boy From Oz") enjoys a solid relationship with Fox, coming off the boxoffice success of "X-Men: The Last Stand," in which he reprised his role as Wolverine. Jackman also is attached to star in the studio's thriller "The Tourist."

"He just continues to astound in terms of his range, whether it's 'Boy From Oz' or Wolverine," Luhrmann said in an interview. "He's always been a leading man, but he is moving toward being an iconic leading man, which is perfect for the story we're doing."

After news leaked that Crowe was dropping out because of differences with the studio, the project appeared to be in jeopardy. Several names, including Heath Ledger, surfaced as a replacement. Luhrmann said Ledger is still a possibility, but for the film's third lead.

Luhrmann also said he expects to work again with his friend Crowe. "I know that Russell and I want to work together. The question is on what," he said. "Working with Russell in the future is something that I definitely look forward to doing."

Jackman's upcoming films include Darren Aronofsky's "The Fountain," Woody Allen's "Scoop" and Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige."

Luhrmann's film begins preproduction in October and shooting starts in Australia in February.

Jackson is repped by Endeavor.