Dystopian story is set in the near future, in a world sent into turmoil when people lose the ability to have children.

Moore’s character is the first woman to become pregnant in nearly 20 years. Owen is enlisted to protect her after the death of the Earth’s youngest person, age 18.

Owen inked a pact to do “Children” in April (Daily Variety, April 28).

Strike’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman are producing the pic, along with Hit and Run partners Hilary Shor and Tony Smith.

Moore would fit the pic into a busy year. She recently wrapped Revolution’s “Freedomland,” helmed by studio partner Joe Roth and starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Thesp will next appear opposite Woody Harrelson in DreamWorks and Revolution’s “The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio,” a 1950s-set drama about a mother of 10 who supports her brood by winning jingle-writing contests. Sony is set to release the pic on Sept. 23.

“Next” is aiming for either a late 2005 or early 2006 start. The Philip K. Dick adaptation, about a man who can see his own future, will be helmed by Lee Tamahori.

Senior veep Dylan Clark is overseeing “Children” for U, while Kristal Laiblin is supervising for Strike.