Rosemarie-DeWitt-in-Nobody-WalksRosemarie DeWitt, one of my all-time favourite actresses, is entering final talks to board one of the most promising projects currently being developed, Kill the Messenger.

That can only be good news.

Deadline report that DeWitt is in final negotiations to play the female lead, which would see her starring opposite Jeremy Renner.

The film is the true-story thriller surrounding the life of Gary Webb, a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, who committed suicide in 2004 after being the target of a smear campaign, following his linking in the mid-’90s of the CIA to a scheme to arm the Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the ’80s and aid the importation cocaine into California.

Renner takes the lead as Webb. And though DeWitt’s role is only referred to as the female lead, it’s quite likely that this would see her playing Webb’s wife, Sue.

The Golden Globe-winning Michael Cuesta (Homeland, Dexter, Six Feet Under) is behind the camera, directing from a script penned by Peter Landesman, writer-director of the anticipated upcoming Parkland.

Focus Features acquired the project earlier this year, and will distribute in the US.

Renner himself is producing via his The Combine shingle, alongside Scott Stuber (Ted) and his Bluegrass Films, Pamela Abdy (Garden State), and Naomi Despres (Chapter 27).

DeWitt, who was most recently seen in Gus Van Sant’s Promised Land opposite Matt Damon, will soon be seen reuniting with her Your Sister’s Sister director, Lynn Shelton, for the brilliant indie film, Touchy Feely. The film is set to be released in the US this September, and is highly recommended viewing.

Rehearsals for Kill the Messenger are expected to start this month. Here’s to hoping that DeWitt’s final talks will go well, and that she’ll officially be boarding the cast soon. It’s still early days yet, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Focus set this for release towards the end of next year, with an eye on the Oscars.