Josh Brolin is joining the cast of AMERICAN GANGSTER, Imagine's 1970s crime drama film starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington that Ridley Scott is directing for Universal Pictures.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMERICAN GANGSTER is based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant Frank Lucas (Washington), who shipped heroin back to the U.S. in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. Lucas was brought to justice by lawman Richie Roberts (Crowe). The two then worked together to expose the crooked cops and foreign nationals.