According to The Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Eckhart has booked a starring turn in Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia, which Millennium Films and Signature Pictures are producing.

The movie is an adaptation of James Ellroy's 1940s-set novel about two LAPD cops who investigate the real-life case of the murder of fledgling actress Elizabeth Short. Eckhart will play one of the officers. Josh Hartnett portrays the other cop. Hilary Swank and Scarlett Johansson also have been cast.

Shooting takes place next month in Bulgaria.

Josh Friedman wrote the adaptation. Eckhart recently finished starring in three indie films: Room 9's Thank You for Smoking, with Robert Duvall and William H. Macy; Conversations With Other Women, opposite Helena Bonham Carter; and Neverwas, with Brittany Murphy. He also appeared in Erin Brockovich and In the Company of Men.

The Black Dahlia was released September 15th, 2006 and stars Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Mia Kirshner, Mike Starr, Fiona Shaw, Patrick Fischler. The film is directed by Brian De Palma.