DEADLINE – The hot project du jour: The Menu, a dark satirical comedy that Alexander Payne will direct. So far, Emma Stone and Ralph Fiennes have signed on to star, and it’s anticipated that other swell names will enlist.

Scripted by Will Tracy & Seth Reiss, the pic focuses on an eccentric culinary event that is planned for an exclusive island and becomes the hot ticket to die for. Fiennes plays the world-class chef who sets it all up and adds some unexpected ingredients to the menu planned. The action follows one particular A-list couple that takes part. Stone will play half of that couple.