David Duchovny has signed on to star opposite Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro in DreamWorks' drama "Things We Lost in the Fire."

Penned by Allan Loeb, the story centers on a woman (Berry) whose husband (Duchovny) suddenly dies. The woman invites her husband's troubled best friend (Del Toro) to live with her family, and as the friend turns his life around, he helps the grief-stricken family confront their loss. Duchovny will appear in flashbacks.

Dogme helmer Susanne Bier ("Open Hearts") will direct "Fire," which is scheduled to start filming next month.

Sam Mendes and Sam Mercer are producing, with Pippa Harris co-producing.

Jeremy Kramer and Mark Sourian are shepherding the project for DreamWorks.

Actor-writer-director Duchovny recently acquired the life rights of Linda Brewer, who provided for her family by hosting passion parties and selling sex toys out of her car throughout the Bible Belt. Duchovny's wife, Tea Leoni, is attached to star as the Arkansas woman. Duchovny will produce the film for Touchstone Pictures and Beacon Pictures.

He next appears in Fox Searchlight's ensemble comedy "Trust the Man," written and directed by Bart Freundlich; "The TV Set," opposite Sigourney Weaver; and "The Secret," helmed by Vincent Perez.

Duchovny is repped by ICM, Melanie Greene Management and attorney Peter Nelson.