Benicio Del Toro is in negotiations to join the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming adaptation Inherent Vice.

Based on a novel by Thomas Pynchon, the film is set in Los Angeles in 1970. The story follows stoner Doc Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix), a private detective, who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a young girl. Benicio Del Toro will be portraying his attorney, who constantly get's the P.I. out of trouble.

Paul Thomas Anderson is directing from a script he wrote and will also be producing with JoAnne Sellar, Daniel Lupi and John Lesher of his Ghoulardi Film Co.

Production is slated to start later this month.