Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon are in final negotiations to star in New Line Cinema's "Rendition," Gavin Hood's follow-up to his Oscar-winning South African feature "Tsotsi."

Written by Kelly Sane, the multilayered story revolves around a CIA analyst based in Cairo who finds his world spinning out of control after he witnesses the interrogation of a foreign national by the Egyptian secret police. Gyllenhaal will play the analyst, while Witherspoon will play the pregnant American wife of the national.

Steve Golin is producing.

David J. Kanter, Keith Redmon and Michael Sugar are executive producing.

Toby Emmerich and Keith Goldberg are overseeing for the studio.

The film is planning shoots in Los Angeles, Washington, Morocco and South Africa starting in November.

Gyllenhaal most recently appeared in "Jarhead" and next stars in "Zodiac," directed by David Fincher. He is repped by CAA and Management 360.

Witherspoon won a best actress Oscar this year for starring as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line." She next appears in "Penelope," a fable on which she served as a producer. Witherspoon is repped by Endeavor and Management 360.