Los Angeles, May 12 (IANS): Two-time Academy Award nominee Laura Dern is in negotiations to star opposite Michael Keaton in “The Founder”, the drama detailing the rise of fast food empire McDonald's.

John Lee Hancock is directing “The Founder”, which may release on November 25, 2016, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Written by Robert Siegel (Big Fan), the drama tells the true story of how Ray Kroc (Keaton), a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s' southern California.

Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.

Dern will play Ethel Kroc, Kroc’s first wife who suffers through his business schemes and whom he neglects.

Dern received an Oscar nomination for her work opposite Reese Witherspoon in Jean-Marc Vallee’s “Wild”.

She recently wrapped production on an untitled drama from Kelly Reichardt, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams, and will next be seen in “99 Homes” opposite Andrew Garfield. The film will release on September 25.