Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Ruffalo is in talks to star in Amazon MGM Studios adaptation of Don Winslow’s novella Crime 101. He will co-star with Chris Hemsworth, who also is in talks to star and produce alongside producing partner Ben Grayson. The film will be released in theaters next year.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, the original short story by Winslow has shades of Heat as it follows high-level jewel thefts that are taking place up and down the Pacific Coast, which police have linked to Colombian cartels. Detective Lou Lubesnick has other ideas, and he zeroes in on one perp, a thief looking for a final score.

Bart Layton is directing and wrote the script with contributions from Peter Straughan. Producers include Story Factory’s Shane Salerno, Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, RAW’s Layton and Dimitri Doganis and Derrin Schlesinger. RAW’s Joely Fether will executive produce. Pedro Pascal was linked to the project last year to star with Hemsworth, but wound up departing the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Ruffalo has already been on a roll this year after coming off his fourth Oscar nomination for his scene-stealing role in Searchlight’s Poor Things. He is currently filming HBO limited series Task from Mare Of East Town creator Brad Ingelsby.

He will next be seen in Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 opposite Robert Pattinson and in Cooper Raif’s series Hal & Harper. Ruffalo is represented by UTA, Lighthouse Management & Media and Keith Klevan.