Dennis Lehane, a best-selling American novelist, will be scripting "Travis McGee," a big movie project Leonardo DiCaprio has been dying to mount since 2010, announces Variety.

Lehane, author of the screenplays for "Mystic River," "Gone Baby Gone" and "Shutter Island," will adapt John D. Macdonald's detective novel "The Deep Blue Good-by" for the screen.

"Travis McGee" is based on the adventures of a private detective in Florida who calls himself a "salvage consultant," finding lost property for a fee. John D. Macdonald wrote 21 Travis McGee novels in 20 years, from 1964-1984.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" with a screenplay by Lehane, is still attached to the project, although he has yet to sign the deal, notes the Hollywood magazine. Oliver Stone was wooed to direct it three years ago, and Paul Greengrass has expressed interest, but the director has yet to be named.