Timeline Taps Walker, Butler

August 1 -- Only yesterday, we reported that The Fast and the Furious' Paul Walker is now worth $2 million at the bargaining table. Er, up that by $1 million. The blond, blue-eyed actor will bring home $3 million for the Michael Crichton-penned time-travel adventure pic Timeline for Paramount Pictures, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Already leading the cast is Scottish actor Gerard Butler, of Dracula 2000, who's been featured recently in apparently baseless James Bond casting rumors.

Timeline concerns a group of grad-school scientists who travel back to the 14th century to rescue their professor, who's been trapped there after an experimental time-travel jaunt. While they look for him, they have to contend with jousting, surviving the feudal system, and finding out how to get back to their own damn century in one piece.

Butler will play Andre Marek, the manager of the group's archaeological dig and an expert on jousting and other 14th-century activities. Walker plays grad student Chris Hughes, who's also the professor's stepson.

Richard Donner, of the Lethal Weapon series, will direct from a script by George Nolfi.

Timeline will start shooting in March. Walker, whose previous films include The Skulls and Pleasantville, will likely squeeze in the mobster saga Wanna-Be before shooting Timeline.