Thursday, October 15

• Ridley Scott in Talks to Direct Adaptation of Red Riding

  Variety writes that Ridley Scott is in talks with Columbia to direct a feature-length adaptation of the British mini-series Red Riding. Columbia recently acquired the rights, and the studio is courting Scott and screenwriter Steven Zaillian as potential collaborators on the project. The two worked together previously on American Gangster and Hannibal.

  The miniseries was based on a series of novels by David Peace and aired in March 2009 as three feature-length episodes, which took place in 1974, 1980, and 1983. The first story centers around a reporter (played by Andrew Garfield) who investigates the abductions of several Yorkshire-area girls. His efforts are hampered by corrupt local police, who have been paid off by a greedy businessman (played by Sean Bean) trying to build a mall in the area.

  Scott and Zaillian, should they agree to take on the project, would move the action to the US and condense all three episodes into one feature-length movie. Scott already has several projects on his plate, including Robin Hood and a prequel to his own Alien. If Zaillian signed on to write the script, it will be only his second in four years; he also co-wrote the script for the upcoming Moneyball, which has already run into several snags.

  
  

  Posted 10/15/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Sean Bean | Ridley Scott | Steven Zaillian | Andrew Garfield | Red Riding: 1980 | Robin Hood | Red Riding: 1974 | Alien | Moneyball | Red Riding: 1983

Friday, July 10

• Moneyball Still Alive, Soderbergh Out as Director

  

  A couple of weeks ago, Sony's Columbia Pictures unexpectedly announced that it would scrap Moneyball, Steven Soderbergh's planned baseball flick. The announcement came just a few days before shooting was to begin in Phoenix.

  Today, Variety reported that Sony plans to continue the project, but without Soderbergh behind the camera. Sony Chairman Amy Pascal reportedly read Soderbergh's rewriteof Steven Zaillian's screenplay and objected to the changes. Soderbergh had apparently planned an unorthodox narrative structure and a documentary style that the studio worried would alienate audiences. There also may have been a secondary concern that the baseball-centric theme would detract from worldwide ticket sales.

  Brad Pitt is still on board to star as Billy Beane, the Oakland A's manager whose unique economical and statistical approach allowed the team to compete with more lucrative baseball franchises such as the Yankees.

  The studio will also hire Aaron Sorkin to make some changes to Zaillian's script, which is based on Michael Lewis' non-fiction book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Sorkin's writing credits include Sports Night, The West Wing, Charlie Wilson's War, and the upcoming David Fincher-directed movie The Social Network.

  Several Major League players, both past and present, agreed to participate in Moneyball, either as actors or as interviewees. They include David Justice, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, and Scott Hatteberg.

  
  

  Posted 07/10/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Brad Pitt | Steven Zaillian | Aaron Sorkin | Steven Soderbergh | Moneyball

Monday, June 22

• Steven Soderbergh Baseball Flick Axed by Columbia

  

  Sony's Columbia Pictures unexpectedly announced yesterday that it would scrap Steven Soderbergh's Moneyball, which was scheduled to begin shooting today in Phoenix. The movie was to star Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the Oakland A's manager whose unique economical and statistical approach to building player rosters allowed the team to be competitive with more lucrative baseball franchises such as the Yankees.

  The dramatized script, written by Steven Zaillian, is based on Michael Lewis's non-fiction book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Several Major League players, both past and present, agreed to participate in Soderbergh's movie, either as actors or interviewees. They include David Justice, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, and Scott Hatteberg.

  Sony Chairman Amy Pascal reportedly read Soderbergh's rewrite of Zaillian's screenplay and objected to the changes. Soderbergh had apparently planned an unorthodox narrative structure that the studio worried would alienate audiences. There also may have been a secondary concern that the baseball-centric theme would detract from worldwide ticket sales. In a column on Movie Line, writer S.T. Vanairsdale gave a rundown of these theories with some astute commentary.

  Soderbergh and Pitt's representatives are currently looking for another studio to fund the movie, with rumors pointing to Paramount or Warner Bros. as likely backers. We will let you know when we hear more.

  
  

  Posted 06/22/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Brad Pitt | Steven Zaillian | Steven Soderbergh | Moneyball