The autobiography recounts the murder of Ellroy's mother in 1958 and his attempt to find her killer years later at the age of 46.

Duchovny, best known for his role on the FOX series "The X-Files," will start shooting the film in June in Los Angeles. Robert Greenwald ("Steal this Movie") will direct, based on a script by Jan Oxenberg. Greenwald will also executive produce the movie, along with Francis Ford Coppola. United Artists will distribute in North America as part of its output deal with American Zoetrope, according to Variety.

While Duchovny may not physically resemble the writer, Ellroy thinks mentally there are matched.

"It's odd to see someone who doesn't resemble me physically in the least playing me. But I met David Duchovny for the first time ... on Saturday and he impressed me as a sharp and alert guy," Ellroy tells the trade magazine. "I've no doubt he can pull it off."

Greenwald, who met Ellroy through the writer's agent, optioned the rights to "Dark Places" even before the mystery writer put it down on paper. Aside from L.A. Confidential," Ellroy also wrote the mystery novels "Black Dahlia," "American Tabloid," "White Jazz," "The Big Nowhere" and "Brown's Requiem."

Ellroy has been closely involved in the making film, according to Greenwald, including working with Oxenberg on the script and offering suggestions during the casting process. The author's top choice to portray his mother is former "Pasadena" star Dana Delany because, "She's a fine actress and she bears the closest physical resemblance," Ellroy says.

Duchovny will next be seen in Steven Soderbergh's "Full Frontal," which hits theaters on August 2. The actor is also returning to "The X-Files" for the show's season finale in May.