Octavia Spencer eyes Diablo Cody pic

SpencerOctavia Spencer is in early negotiations to join the cast of the untitled Diablo Cody project at Mandate Pictures.Russell Brand and Julianne Hough are set to star, with Cody making her directorial debut from a script she penned.The pic centers on a sheltered young woman (Hough) who loses her faith after a plane crash and goes to Las Vegas, where she meets an unlikely companion (Brand).Spencer would play card dealer at a casino on the strip where Brand's character works. Mandate had no comment on the casting.Mason Novick will produce with Mandate Prexy Nathan Kahane will exec produce with Cody.The WME-repped Spencer was most recently seen in DreamWorks' "The Help." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com