Warner Bros. has set William Monahan to adapt David Ignatius' Middle East espionage novel Penetration, with Ridley Scott to direct. De Line Pictures is producing with Scott Free.

While Monahan most recently drafted the Hong Kong hit Infernal Affairs into Martin Scorsese-directed drama Departed, The, he got his start as a screenwriter by scripting the Middle East-set pics Tripoli and Kingdom Of Heaven for Scott.

Variety reports with Penetration, they reteam on a thriller that sends a CIA operative to Jordan to track a high-ranking terrorist. The spy is aided by the head of Jordan's covert operations in an uneasy alliance that leads to cultural and moral clashes between the men. WB exec veep Lynn Harris will shepherd the drama along with Scott Free's Michael Costigan.