Shia LaBeouf is heading to law school - he's to star in a big-screen adaptation of renowned crime author John Grisham's book The Associate.
The Transformers star will portray a Yale Law School student with a sordid secret that leaves him vulnerable to blackmail.
The script will be adapted for Hollywood by The Departed writer William Monahan for studio giant Paramount, reports industry paper Daily Variety.
LaBeouf became interested in the project after reading the book on the set of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is also rumoured to be aboard the project as Paramount picked up the movie rights last year.
Monahan made a break through when he adapted Infernal Affairs for Martin Scorsese, Departed won the Oscar for Best Picture.
He has just finished writing Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson and will make his directorial debut with London Boulevard later this year.
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