AceShowbiz -

Denzel Washington is sitting down with Warner Bros. to talk his chance of portraying a contract killer for the studio. Deadline, which first broke the news, learns that the award-winning actor and father of four is offered a leading role in "Shovel Ready", the feature adaptation of a forthcoming sci-fi novel by New York Times Magazine culture editor Adam Sternbergh.

In a way similar to Denzel's "Man on Fire", the plot of upcoming movie centers on a garbageman-turned-hitman, who is hired to kill the daughter of a powerful, maniacal evangelist. Ultimately, the killer becomes the girl's protector. It is set in a dystopian future of New York City.

As of now, the project already gets Erwin Stoff on board to be the producer. No further details are provided yet.

Denzel himself is already committed to "The Equalizer", which unites him and young Hollywood star Chloe Moretz. Set to headline the film from Antoine Fuqua of "Olympus Has Fallen", the 58-year-old actor will play a mysterious retired intelligence officer whose kindness toward a teen prostitute gets him embroiled with a Russian mob.

Baltasar Kormakur will introduce Denzel as a DEA agent in "2 Guns", which also stars Mark Wahlberg and is slated for an August 2 release in the U.S.