De Niro Is 'The Good Shepherd' To DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio will star in "The Good Shepherd," an epic history of the CIA, which will mark Robert De Niro's second turn as director, reports Variety.

DiCaprio will play James Wilson, an idealistic Yale graduate recruited to become one of the founding officers of the CIA. Wilson is said to be modeled in part on former CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton.

"Shepherd" will chart the history of the CIA through the Cold War, focusing on Wilson's 40-year career, and the toll it exacts on his life and family.

The picture is poised to start production next fall after nearly a decade in development.