Washington, Dec 16 : Reese Witherspoon has landed a role in crime drama `Devil's Knot'.

According to Variety, the Oscar-winning actress has signed up to appear in the movie, which is to be directed by Atom Egoyan and is based on reporter Mara Levitt's 2003 book, `Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three', Contactmusic reported.

In the book, Levitt followed the prolonged murder trial of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., who served 17 years in prison before being released this past August.

They were accused of killing three eight-year-old cub scouts found in a wooded area of Arkansas called Robin Hood Hills.

Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the victims.

The production of the movie is expected to begin next summer. (ANI)