Based on the play of the same name by Michael Ashton, the film is a fictionalized account of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's meetings with Piet Blomfield, an assassin who wants redemption for the killing he has committed while he serves a life sentence in prison in post-apartheid South Africa, reported Variety.
"The Killing Fields" helmer Roland Joffe will direct the project from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ashton.
The project that has been in development for several years, with Whitaker attached, will start shooting early next year.
"Forest Whitaker brings a great sense of depth and power to all his performances and he is the perfect match for Tutu's complex character.
"Vince Vaughn continues to prove his wide-ranging acting skills following his more dramatic roles in 'Into the Wild' and the upcoming 'Hacksaw Ridge'," said Tannaz Anisi, president of 13 Films.