According to Variety, Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in The Black Dahlia, opposite Josh Hartnett and Mark Wahlberg for director Brian De Palma.

In the fictional account of the notorious 1947 murder, Johansson plays Kay, a doppelganger for the title character, and the object of affection for two police officers (Hartnett and Wahlberg) investigating the brutal murder of Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Short.

Adapted for the screen by Josh Friedman from James Ellroy's bestselling novel, pic will start shooting May 24 in L.A.

Johansson will star in "Dahlia" after she finishes work on the Weitz brothers' film Synergy, which she starts shooting in March.

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.