Whitaker on "Night" watch with Reeves

By Nicole Sperling and Tatiana Siegel

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Forest Whitaker, fresh off his best actor Oscar win for "The Last King of Scotland," is in final negotiations to join Keanu Reeves in the cop drama "The Night Watchman."

Based on an original idea by crime writer James Ellroy, the Fox Searchlight project centers on a veteran LAPD cop (Reeves) who turns to alcohol after the death of his wife. The cop is forced to go up against his longtime mentor (Whitaker) when he is implicated in the execution of a fellow officer.

David Ayer, director of "Harsh Times" and the writer on "Training Day," will shoot the project. Production is scheduled to begin May 21.

"Night" marks Whitaker's first project since his Oscar win last month. Next up for the actor is Sony Pictures' "Vantage Point," the voice of Wild Thing in Warner Bros.' "Where the Wild Things Are" and the indie feature "Winged Creatures."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter