Busy actress Eva Mendes is in negotiations to star in Werner Herzog’s upcoming crime drama “Bad Lieutenant,” according to Variety.

Mendes would be starring opposite Nicholas Cage in the remake of the 1992 film of the same title. In the original, Harvey Keitel played a corrupt New York City cop investigating a young nun’s rape.

In the new version, Cage will apparently play a cop who investigates the murder of a group of illegal immigrants. Billy Finkelstein wrote the updated script.

This would mark the second time Mendes works with Cage onscreen. They previously starred in Mark Steven Johnson’s “Ghost Rider.”

Mendes has recently completed filming for Diane English’s comedy “The Women,” which opens Sept. 12, 2008. After that, she will be seen in Frank Miller’s “The Spirit.”

Werner Herzog most recently directed the documentary “Encounters at the End of the World.” His directing credits also include “Rescue Dawn” and Grizzly Man.”

I have no problem with Mendes boarding this project, but I am still not sure if Cage can pull off a role as a corrupt cop. I wonder what his hair will look like this time.