Mark Wahlberg is in early talks to produce and star in legal thriller The Partner.

The Contraband star is said to be interested in New Regency's big-screen adaptation of the John Grisham novel, Belfast Telegraph reported citing Variety.

He is tipped to portray a young partner in a prominent law firm, who fakes his own death to steal a fortune from the company before starting a new life in Brazil.

Mark is expected to produce with partner Stephen Levinson, who he previously collaborated with on Contraband.

The search for a director has begun, following John Lee Hancock's departure from the new adaptation.

Mark - who starred alongside Kate Beckinsale in thriller Contraband - will next be seen with Mila Kunis in Seth MacFarlane's comedy Ted, and crime drama Broken City opposite Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta Jones.

He is also set to start filming Michael Bay's black comedy Pain And Gain with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.