Michael Pitt is in final talks to star opposite Steve Buscemi in Martin Scorsese's drama pilot for HBO Boardwalk Empire.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pilot was written by Terrence Winter and will be directed by Scorsese. Boardwalk Empire is based on Nelson Johnson's book, which chronicles the 1920s origins of Atlantic City, N.J.

The story centers on Nucky Johnson (Buscemi), a cunning businessman who runs a liquor distribution ring at the onset of Prohibition, and Jimmy Darmody (Pitt), a young, highly intelligent and ruthless WWI veteran, a low-level flunky for Nucky who wants to quickly climb the ladder.

Kelly Macdonald was previously cast in the pilot.