News of a new Andrew Dominik project ramped up on Tuesday when Deadline reported that Brad Pitt is negotiating to star in and produce Cogan's Trade, a comedic crime saga that Dominik will direct.

Earlier in the day, The Playlist had been tipped that Dominik was putting the film together and, referencing an earlier comment by Casey Affleck, said it appears the actor would also reteam with his and Pitt's Assassination of Jesse James director.

Says Deadline, Pitt will play Jackie Cogan in the adaptation of George Higgins' novel. Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob. Dominik wrote the script.

According to the Heat Vision blog, names such as Sam Rockwell, Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem have also sprung up as possibilities for the ensemble piece.

Cogan's Trade has been set up independently, financed by Inferno Entertainment, which will handle international sales. Plan B's Pitt and Dede Gardner and Chockstone's Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz are producing. Inferno's Bill Johnson and Jim Seibel will exec producer with Marc Butan. Roger Schwartz is co-producer.

Although Affleck previously said he was doing a movie with Dominik in January 2011, it is not clear when the film will start.

Dominik is also set to direct the adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' Blonde, with Naomi Watts playing Marilyn Monroe. Word on that project is that the financing is in place and a February start had been planned.

However, Wiretap recently heard that if Dominik could get the Pitt project off the ground, Blonde could move to June.

Source: Hollywood Wiretap