Morgan Freeman is in final negotiations to join the cast of private eye thriller "Gone, Baby, Gone" for Miramax Films reports the trades.

Ben Affleck adapted and is making his feature directorial debut on the film, which is based on the fourth novel in Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro detective series.

Story revolves around two private investigators who furiously search for a kidnapped 4-year-old, who has disappeared in the seamiest part of Boston. Freeman and Harris play cops drawn into the hunt.

Michelle Monaghan, Casey Affleck and Ed Harris already have boarded the project, which began shooting in Boston this week.