James McTeigue to direct NESS/CAPONE for Relativity Media

James McTeigue has found a new directing gig wrapping The Raven with John Cusack. Deadline reports that McTeigue is finalizing a deal to direct Ness/Capone based on a script by Grant Pierce Myers. The story will reportedly put "a new spin on the epic battle between Eliot Ness and Al Capone during the Prohibition Era 1920s." The project was bought by Relativity in April. McTeigue will next direct Message From the King, but he is in talks to take on this film after that. The project is being produced by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, Gianni Nunnari, Jason Felts and Rene Rigal.

Ness/Capone "covers the feud in more shades of gray than were evident in The Untouchables. Ness is a skirt-chasing 26-year-old publicity hound who seemed to get an adrenaline charge out of courting danger, kicking in doors, smashing moonshine stores and rubbing it in the noses of Capone and other mobsters. He would parade confiscated bootleg trucks past Capone’s hotel, calling Capone in advance to suggest he look out the window." 

I loved The Untouchables, and am very excited to hear about this project. The key is to get a great cast. Who do you think should play Ness and Capone? What are your thoughts on this news?