Mark Wahlberg has signed on for 20th Century Fox's "Max Payne," a live-action adaptation of the bestselling Rockstar video game reports the trades.

Wahlberg is negotiating to play the titular cop who is haunted by the tragic loss of his family and has little regard for rules as he investigates a series of mysterious murders.

He finds himself up against an adversary bent on destroying Max and the streets he protects. Beau Thorne penned the script.

Shooting will begin early next year under the helm of John Moore ("Behind Enemy Lines," "The Omen").