The trades are reporting that David Cronenberg is in negotiations to helm the film adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s political thriller The Matarese Circle for MGM.

The 1979 book has two rival intelligence agents – one American, the other Soviet – find themselves working together to find out and eliminate members of a mysterious group of criminals called the Matarese that has infiltrated the highest levels of the world’s governments.

Denzel Washington is already attached as the American agent. Michael Brandt and Derek Haas have adapted the screenplay.