Crowe is considering an offer to direct and star in 77, which would be his directorial debut. The story takes place in 1974, even though the film is called 77, so keep those numbers straight, you guys. It ties together a shootout between the LAPD and the Symbionese Liberation Army, in which 50,000 rounds were fired, and the unsolved murder of an LA police officer. The script is by David Matthews based off a story by James Ellroy (LA Confidential).

The Symbionese Liberation Army were the brainwashing cult who kidnapped Patty Hearst. They were crazy. Russell Crowe… also crazy. In a different way, of course, but I think I can see the connection. (Deadline)

_{Above: Steve Buscemi in the upcoming HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire."}

Rampart just got a whole lot sexier. Actor Steve Buscemi has joined the cast of the upcoming crime drama, which already includes Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Woody Harrelson and Robin Wright. Buscemi, an obvious inspiration to Internet writers everywhere, will reportedly play the awesome ugly dude everybody likes even though he’s ugly.

The script for Rampart was written by Oren Moverman and novelist James Ellroy. Ellroy’s involvement means that the film will be set in L.A., and will involve the LAPD, probably with a healthy dose of police corruption and racial slurs thrown in for good measure.

Filming is set to begin in October. (Empire Online)