Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg Join 'American Desperado'

A few years ago Mark Wahlberg and David O. Russell had plans on bringing a feature version of the documentary Cocaine Cowboys to the big screen. This was before Wahlberg and Russell had their little spat and went their separate ways. The story would have centers on 1970s drug kingpin Jon Roberts, who hung with celebrities and ran a powerful cartel that stretched from New York to Miami. Although the project fell through, Wahlberg really wants to make it happen, and so it is, only in a slightly different form.

Deadline reports that Paramount has set Wahlberg to star in American Desperado, a feature adaptation of Jon Roberts and Evan Wright's book which served as the basis for the documentary. William Monahan (The Departed) is penning the script, and it gives Wahlberg a chance to reteam with his Lone Survivor director, Peter Berg, who will be behind the camera.

Gears are turning fast on this one as production is slated to begin early next year.