Oscar winner Kim Basinger is negotiating to star as Eminem's mother in a film loosely based on his life.

In the still-untitled flick, slated to begin shooting in Detroit later this month, Eminem plays a character named Jimmy — a young man who learns to express himself through music and struggles to transcend his bleak circumstances (i.e., the trailer parks of Michigan).

Brittany Murphy ("Girl, Interrupted") and Mekhi Phifer ("Shaft") have been cast as Jimmy's girlfriend and best friend, respectively, according to a Universal Pictures spokesperson. Eugene Byrd ("Whiteboys") will play a black rapper named Wink, a role originally written as a white character and considered by Giovanni Ribisi.

Dr. Dre and Eminem are composing music for the movie and its soundtrack. The picture is expected to hit theaters next year (see [article id="1444148"]"Film Based On Eminem's Life Coming Into Focus"[/article]).

Basinger and the film's director, Curtis Hanson, previously collaborated on 1998's "L.A. Confidential." Her performance in that film earned her a supporting actress Oscar, and Hanson won for best adapted screenplay.