Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) will direct the film, which will be produced by Steve Golin. Filming is set to begin in mid-November in Los Angeles, Washington, and Cape Town.
The film will tell the story of a CIA analyst who questions his assignment after witnessing an interrogation of a terrorist by Secret Service Agents.
Jake Gyllenhaal can next be seen in the suspense film Zodiac. Witherspoon will next appear in the film Penelope, with Christina Ricci and Hayden Christensen.