The Playlist has got three great new images and the first full synopsis from the upcoming L.A. cop drama, Rampart, starring Woody Harrelson in the lead role.

The film is to be directed by Oren Moverman (The Messenger), and has been scripted by Moverman and the brilliant novelist, essayist, and screenplay writer James Ellroy (Street Kings, L.A. Confidential).

Rampart is based on the real-life Rampart scandal of the late 1990s, which saw the investigation of the corruption within the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) anti-gang section of the LAPD, with over 70 cops implicated and convicted, making it one of the most widespread and notorious instances of police corruption in U.S. history. And, if that is anything to go by, the film is going to be utterly immense.

Supporting Harrelson in the lead will be Ice Cube (Friday), the main investigator that’s gunning for Harrelson’s character, Dave Brown. The film will also star one of my favourite actors, Ben Foster (Alpha Dog), Sigourney Weaver (Avatar), Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs), Brie Larson (Scott Pilgrim), Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), Anne Heche (Donnie Brasco), and Ned Beatty (Toy Story 3). Looking at that list, we’re in for a real treat.

Many of Ellroy’s novels have been turned into films, including the truly incredible L.A. Confidential and The Black Dahlia. In his novels, and now in his films, Ellroy’s vision of L.A. is like almost no other writers, and I personally can’t wait to see Moverman and Ellroy’s take on the Rampart scandal. And judging from the cast and the first full synopsis, it’s going to be exceptional:

“The last of the renegade cops, LAPD officer Dave Brown (Harrelson) is caught on tape “doing the people’s dirty work” and finds himself at the center of a vicious scandal. The days of being above the law are over. Now a poster boy for police corruption, Dave learns he’s been targeted by cop killers looking for revenge. Nothing is what it seems as Dave descends into the L.A. underworld and exacts his own brand of justice.”

L.A. has been the subject and location of an endless number of novels, films, songs, and every other art form imaginable. This kind of vision of its underworld is something that has been tackled by many artists, and there are those that do it exceptionally, but also those that don’t. Without a doubt, Ellroy is one of those that do, and this project has got me so excited for it that I’m already mentally reserving space in my all-time favourite movies list for it.

According to The Playlist, Harrelson’s performance,

“has already been hyped as “stone cold,” “insane” and one that will likely be recognized come award season.”

That’s just the kind of thing that’s getting me excited. Foster, who’s also acting as a producer on Rampart, has said that the film likely won’t be released until next year. Filming has finished and the project is now in post-production, so I think everyone’s hoping that it might just make its way into a 2011 release. Foster, Harrelson, and Moverman all worked together on The Messenger, which saw Academy Award nominations for Harrelson in the Best Supporting role and for Moverman and Alessandro Camon for Best Original Screenplay. I sincerely believe that these people working together again will produce a work of sheer immensity.

Without further ado, I now present to you, the three pictures. As usual, click to enlarge: