Leonardo DiCaprio, the other actor of the moment, had been in talks for the starring role as late as Monday night, but when it appeared the “Titanic”star was going to delay his decision, the producers went to Damon, who is reportedly a fan of the Cormac McCarthy novel on which the film is based. Damon takes on the role of a young Texan who rides into Mexico in 1949 with a buddy. When he falls for the daughter of a wealthy ranch owner, the man has the young cowboy thrown into a Mexican prison, but the resilient lad exacts justice and becomes a man by the time he returns to Texas. The Columbia Pictures/Miramax Films co-production is stacked with Academy Award-winning writers: Ted Tally, who won an Oscar for his adaptation of “The Silence of the Lambs”, wrote this adaptation; and Thornton, who took home the gold man in 1996 for his “Sling Blade” script, tackles his first helming stint since that film.

Damon and Ben Affleck last month won an Oscar for writing “Good Will Hunting”, in which the two also starred and Damon garnered a best actor Oscar nomination as well.

Production will start in late 1998 or early 1999, following Damon’s stint in “The Talented Mr. Ripley” for Anthony Minghella of “The English Patient” fame.

Since gaining worldwide acclaim from “Titanic,” and despite eight-figure offers, sources said DiCaprio is being incredibly choosy about the roles he is considering as his follow-up to the $1.5 billion box office smash.But with a finite number of quality scripts out there for young leading men, — and “All the Pretty Horses” is said to be one of the best star vehicles around — other actors like Damon are quick to seize the roles. Reuters/Variety