Could a British actor be in-line for a role in the screen adaptation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay?

That at least is what the UK’s The Sunday Times hints at in its recent interview with actor Dan Stevens. Stevens, the article says, is scheduled to meet with Stephen Daldry about a movie project. Stevens declined to tell the paper what movie they would be discussing, but he happened to have the Michael Chabon novel with him during the interview.

Daldry is signed to direct Kavalier & Clay.

Stevens, 23, has never acted in movies, instead primarily showing up on stage or in BBC mini-series. He stars as Nick Guest in BBC2’s mini-series adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst’s novel The Line of Beauty, which kicks-off Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the UK.

The film adaptation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay recently moved into pre-production, Michael Chabon said Wednesday.

In a posting on his Web site, Chabon said Paramount Picture’s adaptation, produced by Scott Rudin and directed by Stephen Daldry, has begun design work.

“Though the production has by no means been greenlighted, prospects for this long-running, oft-moribund project are suddenly looking better than they ever have before,” Chabon said.

Production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein and costume designer Ann Roth have begun work, Chabon said. The film’s comic book elements, “of which there are many,” is being overseen by Paul Pope.

Casting has also begun, Chabon said, though not roles have been cast yet.

In other news, Chabon confirmed that Dark Horse Comic’s The Escapists, the six-issue limited series spinning-off from the now-canceled Michae Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, will debut this summer.

Writing for Disney’s Snow and the Seven is “ongoing,” Chabon said. And Chabon said The Yiddish Policemen’s Union will hit book stores in January.

“Really. No, really.”

Two stories that were completed for Dark Horse’s The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist series before it was canceled will not be in this summer’s The Escapists, a Dark Horse spokesman said Tuesday.

Lee Dawson, Dark Horse publicity director, said the first six-issue series of The Escapists will feature just Brian K. Vaughan and Steve Rolston’s story arc. Dawson said an official press announcement about the series will be sent out “soon.”

“I should have more info on the ‘missing’ stories soon as well,” Dawson said via e-mail.

Before it was canceled, The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist #9 was scheduled to include two stories in addition to the on-going “Escapists” stories. Howard Chaykin and artist Jed Dougherty had completed a story featuring a battle between several decades’ incarnations of Luna Moth. Stuart Moore and Phil Winslade had finished a 1970’s story featuring the Escapist and a certain gonzo journalist.

The Escapists hits stores in July.

Is it possible that deep within Alan Moore’s beard lies a copy of Kavalier & Clay?

Apparently. In Bill Baker’s Alan Moore Spells It Out, released last month and based on an interview in 2002, Moore is asked what books he is reading.

“I’ll have a new favorite every couple of days, if I’m lucky, and I’m always looking for new novelists to absorb,” he says. “I’ve been quite impressed with Glen Gould’s ‘Carter Beats the Devil,’ there’s a thumping good yarn. And, of course, Michael Chabon, with ‘The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay’ [sic], very good book.”

(Many thanks to Shane Hazen for the tid-bit.)