Universal Pictures has picked up domestic rights from 2929Productions to crime drama We Own The Night starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg,Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes.

James Gray, who directed Phoenix and Wahlberg in 2000's TheYards, wrote and isdirecting the project, which is currently shooting in New York.

Universal previously acquiredrights for the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia, Austria, New Zealand andSwitzerland at Berlin. 2929 International will handle rights in remainingterritories at Cannes.

Nick Wechsler, 2929 Productions president Marc Butan and Wahlberg producedand 2929 co-chiefs Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban are serving as executiveproducers.

Set in the 1980s against the backdrop of a violent strugglebetween New York City police and Russian gangsters, Phoenix and Wahlberg play brotherswith differing fates whose families are deeply rooted in the NYPD.

The announcementwas made by Universal president of production Jon Gordon and Butan.