BRAD PITT - BRAD PITT TO PLAY JESSE JAMES

BRAD PITT is strapping up to play legendary cowboy outlaw JESSE JAMES in the first film financed by the production company he co-owns with estranged wife JENNIFER ANISTON.

Yesterday (25JAN05) publicists for Pitt and Aniston announced the former couple's plans to remain business partners in PLAN B ENTERTAINMENT, which has a number of projects in the pipeline.

And now comes news that Pitt will play cowboy James in a movie based on a novel called THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES by COWARD ROBERT FORD.

The book tells the story of the gunslinger's death at the hands of a young upstart.