Winter the dolphin, who lost her tail to a crab trap, had a plastic replacement installed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and became a media sensation, will apparently be a movie star, too.

The Hollywood Reporter says Alcon Entertainment -- producers of the box office hit The Blind Side and the upcoming The Book of Eli  -- has hired Charles Martin Smith (yes, "Terry the Toad" from American Graffiti) to write and direct A Dolphin Tale, based on Winter's adventure. Alcon is a subsidiary of Warner Bros., so distribution shouldn't be any problem if and when the film comes to fruition.

Don't get excited just yet. Nobody has been cast and the Hollywood Reporter story doesn't mention anything about filming locations. A lot of things need to happen between now and A Dolphin'Tale playing at your favorite megaplex. And, honestly, sometimes they don't.

Smith previously directed 1997's Air Bud, so he knows his way around heartwarming animal stories.

Here's a 2007 Times story on Winter's travails and new tail.