David Beckham is in negotiations to join the cast of MGM's "The Pink Panther." The world's most celebrated soccer player would play a cameo role as -- what else? -- a soccer player in the film, which follows a detective solving the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of the Pink Panther diamond. Talks for Beckham to take the role are hinging on resolving a scheduling conflict that MGM and Beckham's manager are trying to iron out. Beckham recently relocated to Spain, where he now plays for Real Madrid. It would be the first feature film appearance for Beckham, who was featured only in archive footage in the aptly named "Bend It Like Beckham," directed by Gurinder Chadha. In "Pink Panther," Steve Martin stars as Inspector Clouseau, with Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles and Jean Reno also cast. Bob Simonds is producing, with Shawn Levy directing. The film is due to go into production in May and is scheduled for a July 2005 release.