Jamie Foxx and Kevin Hart are in talks to star in The Black Phantom for Screen Gems, with Tim Story (Ride Along) in negotiations to direct.

The story follows a hitman who was double-crossed by his employer, forcing him to seek out the African-American assassin hired for the job, known only as The Black Phantom. The comedy has been in development at Screen Gems since 2009, when the studio picked up the script from first-time writers Dave Lease and Megan Hinds.

William Packer is producing for the studio, reuniting with his Ride Along director Tim Story and star Kevin Hart. Jamie Foxx was reportedly interested in working with Kevin Hart, and William Packer had wanted to make this project for several years. Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper is overseeing the project for the studio.

Jamie Foxx will next be seen in Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Annie, while Kevin Hart's next projects are The Wedding Ringer and Get Hard.