Remember that mushy-sounding, Irreconcilable Differences-esque movie starring the Fanning sisters that's in the works? About a little girl who sues her parents for divorce after finding out she only exists to serve as a genetic match for her dying sis? It's called My Sister's Keeper, and it just got a whole lot better-sounding. According to Variety, Alec Baldwin has joined the cast, which also includes Cameron Diaz as the mother of Dakota and Elle Fanning. Baldwin fortunately won't be playing the girls' daddy; instead he's set for the role of an attorney representing the younger, wrongfully-conceived sister. He will be going up against Diaz, whose mom character is also a former trial lawyer and will be defending herself. It's still unclear if the father role will be significant, or if the parents are now divorced, separated or simply not cinematic equals. Of course, the production has until its February start date to let us know the actor for that part.

Baldwin, who previously worked with Dakota Fanning on The Cat in the Hat, was able to sign on to My Sister's Keeper thanks in part to the writer's strike, which has halted the shooting of Baldwin's hit TV series 30 Rock (though Variety points out he is contractually allowed to schedule a movie, who's to say it would have happened with this, at this time?). I've just recently become addicted to the show specifically because of him, and hope his attorney character is close in tone to his NBC executive character, Jack Donaghy. Yet something -- perhaps the subject matter of the film -- tells me that won't be the case. Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) will be directing from a script by Jeremy Leven (The Notebook), which was adapted from the novel by Jodi Picoult, while Mark Johnson (The Notebook) produces.

The last time the Fanning sisters were in the same movie (I Am Sam), they played the same character at different ages. Now they've been cast in a new movie in which they both exist for the same character. Confused? Hold on. According to Variety, Elle and Dakota, who are now 9 and 13 respectively, will star in Nick Cassavetes' adaptation of My Sister's Keeper alongside Cameron Diaz. Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult, it's the story of a young girl who was conceived solely for the purpose of being a genetic match for her older sister, who is suffering from cancer. So, basically, Elle's part is that of a literal tool, existing only for the extension of Dakota's character's life. And I guess the parents don't treat the younger enough like a real, intentional child, because she ends up suing them for divorce -- kinda like little Drew Barrymore does in the largely forgotten gem from my youth, Irreconcilable Differences. Cassavetes' partners from The Notebook, screenwriter Jeremy Leven and producer Mark Johnson, are also on board, and production is set to begin in March.

If there's any competition between the Fannings for who will be the first to score an Oscar, this could be the movie in which to really shine. For the older Dakota, we've got a character dying of a disease, which at least used to be an Academy favorite for recognition (maybe if she was also mentally handicapped, she'd have more of a chance). Then for little "Sweetie Pie" (I'll never stop calling Elle that, even when she's 30), there's the strong court-battle role, which typically serves up meaty performances. And with Diaz in the movie, the sisters are sure to appear even better actresses than they are. As we told you in July, Diaz will play the girls' mother, who was cast first and then required the lowering of the sisters' ages from 13 and 16, as they are in the book (what, we can't believe Diaz had a daughter when she was 19?). Although this will be the first movie Elle and Dakota appear in together as sisters, they did play sisters in the American dub of My Neighbor Totoro -- which only used their voices (you should really watch the subtitled version; it's so much cuter). So, will the Fannings compete too much and end up giving us over the top delivery? Or could they both be good enough to further compete come awards time? Or will we be so over them by the time this movie comes out and not care either way?

I've been continually impressed with Nick Cassavetes as a director ever since he managed to make a whole lot of men cry with The Notebook. His last film, Alpha Dog, was pretty good too -- not only did it prove that Anton Yelchin is an actor to watch out for, but Justin Timberlake also showed up in fine form. Now, Variety tells us Cassavetes is looking to pull another Timberlake with that dude's ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz. She'll be starring in a rare drama as the mother of a girl who brings her parents to court with hopes of emancipation. Oh, but she ain't some spoiled girl who thinks she's better than mom and pops -- there's a whole lot more to the story, and it involves the touchy subject of conceiving a child so that said child can save a fellow sibling.

New Line will shell out My Sister's Keeper, based on the book written by Jodi Picoult. Aside from coming from the same studio, pic will also reunite The Notebook team of Cassavetes (director), Jeremy Leven (screenwriter) and Mark Johnson (producer). In the film, Diaz will play a former defense attorney who heads back to the courtroom to defend herself and her husband when they're sued for emancipation by their 13 year-old daughter. Thing is, the reason the daughter was conceived was because she'd be a genetic match and help provide organs to hopefully save her cancer-ridden sister's life. The girl sues for emancipation because she feels she should have the right to her own body. Oh the nerve! Diaz in a drama as a lawyer? I'm not so sure I see it yet, but if Cassavetes can somehow make me cry while the Charlie's Angel is on screen, I would hope the Academy would create a special category just for that. My Sister's Keeper begins shooting this fall; currently, Diaz is the only one signed on.