Ridley Scott is in talks to direct Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in the Brian Grazer-produced drama "American Gangster" reports Variety.

The project, also known as "Tru Blu", made headlines when Univeral pulled the plug on it in late 2004 when Director Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day", "King Arthur") was a month from starting production in Harlem with Washington and Benicio Del Toro attached. The cancellation was due entirely to concern over the project running over budget.

"Hotel Rwanda" writer-director Terry George was brought on to rework Steve Zaillian's script and rein in the budget, Scott is working with George's draft. Story revolves around a Harlem heroin kingpin who figured out a way to smuggle heroin in the coffins of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

Universal will decide this week whether to finance or co-finance the revamped '70s crime drama. If it lets it go, two other studios have expressed interest. Scott hopes to shoot this summer, though Crowe's schedule may impact that.