Crowe In Toronto for "American Gangster"?

Actor Russell "Gladiator" Crowe has been seen in Toronto purchasing clothing for his family. The Oscar winner previously lived in the city when he starred in the boxing film "Cinderella Man" for director Ron "The Da Vinci Code" Howard.

Sources say Crowe is prepping to star in the action thriller "American Gangster" for director Sir Ridley "Blade Runner" Scott, possibly scheduled to shoot in Toronto, subbing for NYC.

Scott is no stranger to working in Canada, having business ventures with brother Tony "Top Gun" Scott in Scott Free Productions, previously offering to set up a studio complex in Toronto supported by the brothers UK Pinewood Studio holdings.

Scott Free also recently executive produced Alberta-shot "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", starring Brad Pitt.

November 2004, Universal Studios cancelled the on-again, off-again "American Gangster" feature, adjusting to the scrutiny of its corporate parent, General Electric.

That version would have reunited "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua with Oscar winning stars Denzel Washington and Benicio Del Toro. The cancellation at the time reportedly cost the studio north of $100 million in prep costs.

Premise of the period "American Gangster" film, tells the true story of a hard drug smuggling operation set during the Viet Nam war.