Thomas Dekker is looking to play an aspiring actor

Thomas Dekker is hoping to learn how to fly.

The " Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" star is in negotiations to play one of the leads in the remake of the 1980s musical "Fame," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Dekker is eyeing the role of Marco, a kid from a blue-collar background who has the desire and talent to act, but needs to beat out several thousand others to prove himself in a New York high school for the arts. Other characters in the school include a slam poet, a sheltered pianist, a salsa musician, an aspiring filmmaker and a shapely dancer.

Directing the remake is Kevin Tancharoen, a director/choreographer who has worked on Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson's tours, music videos and MTV's "DanceLife." The revamp is based on a script by Allison Burnett.

The original Alan Parker-directed 1980s film centered on the auditions and other trials and tribulations of various students attending New York High School of Performing Arts over their four years there. Irene Cara, who co-starred in the film, also sang the title song, "Fame," which won an Oscar for best original song. The movie was also spun off into a TV series.

Producers are hoping to begin shooting in February for a Sept. 25, 2009 release.

Dekker, 20, stars as John Connor on FOX's "Sarah Connor Chronicles." Previously, he appeared on the first season of " Heroes" and provided the voice for Littlefoot in the "Land Before Time" animated franchise.