Josh Brolin in Line for Jonah Hex

Following up on Oliver Stone’s W, the smart money is on Josh Brolin keeping the cowboy boots on, this time, to play Jonah Hex. Both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are reporting that Brolin is “in talks” to play the Western bounty hunter in a film version written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. The duo, who also wrote and directed Crank will direct the film.

The character currently appears in his own monthly series written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with art by a variety of rotating (and acclaimed) artists such as Darwyn Cooke, Jordi Bernet, Tony DeZuniga, and Phil Noto , to name a few.

We contacted Palmiotti for his reaction to the news.

“Well, if it wasn’t enough that we got Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor writing and directing, I can’t think of a better candidate than Josh Brolin playing Jonah Hex,” the writer said. “Josh has the right deadly look in his eye and has already proven dozens of times again and again to be one of the most talented actors out there. This news has got Justin and I very excited on a number of levels. If this is true, this is just plain awesome.”

The film version of Jonah Hex will be produced by Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance and Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road. Lazar was, at one time, attached to a film version of Palmiotti and Joe Quesada’s Ash.

The film version of Hex is reportedly schedule to reach theaters in 2010.