Jennifer Connelly starring in The Blood Diamond

According to THR Jennifer Connelly is in talks to star in "The Blood Diamond", which will be directed by Edward Zwick. She joins Leonardo DiCaprio who portrays a smuggler, in Sierra Leone circa 1999, at a time when the nation was in the midst of a horrific civil war.

He specializes in the sale of "blood diamonds," also known as "conflict diamonds", the precious stones used to finance rebellions, privateers and terrorists. But when the smuggler encounters an indigenous Mende farmer whose young son has disappeared into the RUF's army of child soldiers, the two men's fates become linked.

The Project was originally developed by Warners-based producer Paula Weinstein, who brought aboard Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz to rewrite it. Along the way, Zwick became so interested in the African adventure that he agreed to also direct the movie. Warner Bros is hoping to shoot "The Blood Diamond" early next year.