Newcomer Justin Chatwin is in talks for a coveted role opposite Tom Cruise in Steven Spielberg’s The War of the Worlds, an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel for Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks.

The Hollywood Reporter says Chatwin beat out several young actors for the part, which casts him as the son of Tom Cruise’s character. Their strained relationship is reportedly a significant plot point in the film.

Tim Robbins will play astronomer Ogilvy, while Miranda Otto will play the wife of the main character played by Cruise. Dakota Fanning will portray their daughter.

Chatwin starred in Spielberg’s mini-series Taken in 2002.

- “Collateral” was the top scorer, “Wimbledon” headed the United Kingdom for a second weekend, and “Shark Tale” kept up a sturdy pace in early bows in a weekend at the overseas boxoffice that was typically lackluster for the early fall.

A batch of new entries barely made it to the starting gate, but a number of holdover blockbusters and midbudget films added to their international cumes as they chugged along the international track.

Bolstered by five new openings, including France, “Collateral” jumped to the front with a weekend total of $8.7 million from 1,853 screens in 12 countries, lifting its foreign gross to $36.8 million. The Tom Cruise starrer pushed “The Village” to second place ($8 million), ending the M. Night Shyamalan-directed film’s five-week hold as the top offshore performer.

“Collateral” hit the top of the chart in France with $3.7 million from 492 and registered $542,000 (from 51) in Belgium and $559,000 (from 87) in the Netherlands. “Village,” which reached an international cume of $115 million, held first place in Spain for a second weekend, taking in $2 million for a market total of $8.4 million.