Washington, Feb 12 : Hollywood actor Josh Brolin has been roped in to play the lead in the comic book adaptation of `Jonah Hex'.

Con Air star John Malkovich has been signed on to play Brolin's nemesis.

Malkovich will play Turnbull, a wealthy Southern plantation owner whose son is killed by Union soldiers during the Civil War. He blames Hex, a former confederate soldier-turned-hardened bounty hunter and gunslinger, reports Variety.

Director Jimmy Hayward of `Horton Hears A Who' fame will helm the project.

The script has been penned by "Crank" scribes Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. (ANI)