Ford Faces Reality In 'Crowley Project'

(CBS)  From the depths of outer space as Han Solo to the jungles of the world as Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford has traversed nearly all the terrain of the movie world. But now, he's taking on real-life inspiration as a star and executive producer of the first CBS Films production, tentatively titled, "The Untitled Crowley Project."

Ford plays a maverick scientist who is reluctantly recruited by a desperate, cure-seeking father, played by Brendan Fraser, whose two children are diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.

Mark Steines, of Entertainment Tonight, reported Tuesday on The Early Show that Ford has been developing the film for five years.

"I thought it was a remarkable story of this man and his family," Ford told Steines recently. "About very courageous people."

Fraser's role was inspired by John Crowley, whose children, Megan and Patrick, were diagnosed with Pompe Disease at infancy.

Fraser, who has three children, said he understands what Crowley had to do as a parent.

"And what parent wouldn't do anything for their kids," Fraser told Steines. "He's not a scientist by any means, but he found one who was a bit of a renegade for sure -- to say the least -- but brilliant."

Keri Russell of "Felicity" fame stars as the children's mother.

She told Steines, "This isn't going to be a sad story. This is a story about people who are surviving this, and making it, you know, these really extraordinary people."

In the film, Crowley moved mountains to build a company that could rescue his children, only to be faced with an impossible choice between his family or the work that might spare them.

The real-life Crowleys have survived the ordeal, even though doctors predicted, John said, that his children would live for only a few short years.

Megan is now 12 years old, and Patrick is 11.

John said the glue that kept the family together through the challenges is laughter:

"One of the things we thrive on is a sense of humor," he said, "and that makes the difference in life."

The movie is slated for release in April 2010. CBS Films also has in its line-up "The Back-Up Plan," starring Jennifer Lopez, and "Beastly" with and Vanessa Hudgens.