*Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to join the cast of the action film "The Expendables," the latest writing and directing project from Sylvester Stallone.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Whitaker would play the CIA liaison for a group of mercenaries (played by Stallone, Jet Li, Randy Couture and Jason Statham) who are clandestinely sent to South America to overthrow a dictator.
Stallone made his pursuit of Whitaker public back in November. In recent weeks, he has been scouting locations for a February shoot.
"Expendables" is the first project in Stallone's two-picture deal with Nu Image/Millennium. He last wrote and directed "Rambo," which mowed down $155 million in worldwide grosses.
Whitaker, meanwhile, appears next in "Hurricane Season" and "Repossession Mambo."