Samuel L. Jackson is in talks to take the role of supervillain the Octopus in Frank Miller's film rendition of Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Lionsgate and Odd Lot Ent. are producing.

In the story, the Octopus starts out as a meek lab assistant who becomes a murderous crime kingpin in Central City. Miller has to still decided his choice for the title character, a cop who is believed to be murder, who comes back to fight crime as the ghostly Spirit.

Batfilm's Michael Uslan will produce with Odd Lot's Deborah Del Prete and Gigi Pritzker from the Miller screenplay.