Russell Crowe will join Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies, the William Monahan-scripted adaptation of the David Ignatius novel that Ridley Scott will direct for Warner Bros.
Donald De Line and Scott are producing; the film shoots in the fall, says Variety.
Crowe will play Ed Hoffman, the manipulative CIA boss who teams with operative Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) to trap a dangerous Al-Qaeda leader by planting a false rumor that the bomber is in cahoots with the Americans.
Crowe has been courted to play the CIA boss since DiCaprio signed on in April. He’s awaiting a polish by American Gangster screenwriter Steve Zaillian before formally committing.