Russell Crowe and Ron Howard are circling "The Power of Duff," a Stephen Belber-scripted drama that Universal purchased this month. DreamWorks will be a co-production partner reports Variety.

Talks are just starting for Crowe to play a TV news anchor whose grief over his father's death prompts him to pray aloud during newscasts. When his prayers begin getting answered, the newsman becomes a most controversial TV figure. Imagine chairman Brian Grazer will produce.

Timing for the project is unclear. Crowe is available because his film "Eucalyptus" was shelved, however Howard and Grazer are booked through the rest of the year with "The Da Vinci Code" and Howard won't be available for his next film until 2006 and he's already in development on both "East of Eden" and "The Serpent & The Eagle".

Thanks to 'Angie'.