Phoenix Pictures has optioned "The Brass Wall" and will build the crime book into a starring vehicle for Mark Ruffalo reports Variety. Written by New York Times reporter David Kocieniewski, book chronicles an incident of police corruption in New York.

When an undercover cop infiltrated the Lucchesi crime family to solve the murder of a city firefighter, he discovered the tipster was the son of a high-ranking police official. Ruffalo will play the undercover cop who cracked the case.

"The Brass Wall" marks the third collaboration between Phoenix and Ruffalo. He wrapped the Steve Zaillian-directed "All the King's Men," which Sony releases Dec. 16, and just began shooting the David Fincher-directed "Zodiac," which Phoenix is producing.

Thanks to 'Miles'.