(Image source from: Liam Hemsworth and Evan Peters Eying Ali Baba Forty Thieves Movie})

Actors Liam Hemsworth, Evan Peters and Dan Stevens are the fronrunners in playing the lead role in the classic folktale "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves".

A new take on the folktale is in the works at the 20th Century Fox, reported Ace Showbiz.

Shawn Levy is expected to direct the movie. The plot is still unclear, but it reportedly will focus on a young male lead named Allen who may be a stand-in for the original classic character Ali Baba.

Envisioned as an adventure movie with strong comedic undertones, it's described as "Guardians of the Galaxy" meets "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Hemsworth is closing out the 'Hunger Games' saga with 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1' due November 21 in the US and 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2' to follow around the same date next year.

Peters currently stars on 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' and is expected to reprise his superhero role in 'X-Men'.

AW: Arun Kumar