"Runaway Jury" director Gary Fleder has boarded MGM's 9/11 drama "Counter-Terrorist." The drama is based on the real-life story of FBI counterterrorism agent John P. O'Neill, who lost his life in the World Trade Center attacks.

While MGM is hopeful that Fleder will become involved as director, the current deal, according to his reps, calls for him only to develop the project, which originated as an article in the New Yorker written by Lawrence Wright, who is adapting the story for MGM.

O'Neill was chief of counterterrorism at the FBI, where he dedicated much of his life to tracking Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network, which was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. O'Neill had just taken on a new position as head of security for the World Trade Center when he was killed.

In the article, Wright recounts an exchange between O'Neill and a former colleague who comments on hearing of his new appointment: "At least they're not going to bomb it again (referring to an earlier attack on the World Trade Center). O'Neill replied, "They'll probably try and finish the job."

Fleder's credits include "Don't Say a Word" and "Kiss the Girls." He recently was assigned to direct Steven Bochco's drama pilot "Blind Justice" for ABC. Fleder is repped by WMA.