Hollywood stars George Clooney and Nicole Kidman have signed on to star in a new film based on the plight of nine Australians accused of heroin trafficking in Bali, following on from the success of crime gang films Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Twelve.

In Bali Nine, Clooney is likely to play one of the alleged ringleaders of the group, either Myuran Sukumaran or Andrew Chan.

The film’s backers say whichever character Clooney chooses to play will have his name Anglicised, perhaps to Dan Clair.

Kidman’s role will take her back to her roots, reviving the similar role she played in Bangkok Hilton before her marriage to Tom Cruise and rise to Hollywood fame.

Kidman says she will play “a thinner, prettier” Renae Lawrence, one of the alleged drug mules among the nine.

Others rumoured to star in the film are David Wenham — who has replaced Ben Mendelson as the actor who has to appear in every Australian movie being made — and Robert Downey Jr, due to his relevant real-life experience.

Screenwriters say the plot is still “fluid” but is likely to involve six key segments:

• a ‘planning’ phase where the nine - each possessing a unique, critical skill - gather to plan the operation;
• an ‘action’ phase where the plan is played out;
• a ‘busted’ scene where the nine are arrested and jailed;
• a ‘twist’ where something the audience has been led to believe turns out not to be true;
• a ‘break-out’ scene where the nine escape prison using some technique not seen on the big screen for at least 10 years;
• and a ‘we’re rich and free’ scene where the nine gather to gloat over their wonderful scheme and the money they accumulated.