KRISTEN STEWART is in negotiations to star in “Underwater,” a 20th Century Fox adventure thriller that is being produced by Chernin Entertainment.

    Will Eubank, who co-wrote and helmed the sci-fi thriller “The Signal,” is directing.

    “Underwater” centers on an underwater scientific crew that, after facing an earthquake, are forced to go on a dangerous journey for survival. The script, written by Brian Duffield with a revision by Adam Cozad, has been described as an underwater “Armageddon.”

    If a deal is made, Stewart will play the film’s lead, a jaded and hardened crewmember. A March production start in New Orleans is being eyed.

    The move puts the actress, who has developed a strong résumé working on a wide range of indies since her days of toplining the “Twilight” movies, back into a more mainstream space.

    Although Stewart has starred in such big-budget pics as “Snow White and the Huntsman,” it is her work in such films as “Equals” and “Still Alice” that have shown she is interested in material that is deeper and meaningful than most standard fare. (SD-Agencies)