ALAN CUMMING DONS 'MASK' AGAIN FOR NEW ROLE

Fresh off his role as the sad-sack but friendly mutant superhero Nightcrawler in the blockbuster 'X2: X-Men United,' Alan Cumming is in early negotiations to take on a more villainous role.

He's up for the 'Son of the Mask,' the second installment of New Line's 'Mask' franchise.

Starring Jamie Kennedy , 'Son of the Mask' carries on with the premise of a character-altering mask that was established in the 1994 blockbuster feature starring Jim Carrey.

This time around, it follows an aspiring cartoonist (Kennedy) who is not ready for fatherhood but finds himself raising a baby endowed with the powers of the mask of Loki (Cumming).

'Son of the Mask' is scheduled for a summer production start.

Cumming, who won a Tony Award in 1999 for his starring turn in 'Cabaret,' has a lengthy and varied feature resume that includes roles in 'Spy Kids,' 'Nicholas Nickleby' and 'The Anniversary Party.'

He next appears in the upcoming 'Spy Kids 3' sequel, which hits US and UK cinemas on July 25.