'Fast & Furious' producer Neal Moritz has teamed up with scriptwriter Joe Gazzam for the project, according to Deadline.
The film will be a reimagining of the 1993 action thriller, which starred Stallone as a rescue ranger who finds himself involved in a failed heist.
'Cliffhanger' is the latest in a series of classic action films to receive remakes, following the likes of 'Total Recall', 'RoboCop' and the upcoming 'Point Break'.
Sony - who own Moritz's Original Pictures - is also developing the mountain-climbing film 'Everest', starring Tom Hardy as Edward Mallory.