| Daily News |
|
|
| All news for "Moneyball" |
|
Soderbergh's "Moneyball" thrown into jeopardy
22 June 2009
It‘s not often that Hollywood heavyweights don‘t get their own way, but Steven Soderbergh and Brad Pitt are facing that possibility as Columbia Pictures mulls over what to do about "Moneyball", reports Variety.
The Soderbergh–directed baseball film starring Pitt as a pioneering manager was supposed to begin production today in Phoenix. However, on Friday, Columbia Pictures president Amy Pascal placed the picture into "limited turnaround," giving the filmmaker the chance to set it up at another studio, with Warner Bros. and Paramount the main contenders.
The decision came after Pascal read Soderbergh‘s rewrite to Steven Zaillian‘s script and found it too different from the earlier scripts she championed. Pascal was uncomfortable enough with the changes to throw the production into jeopardy.
"Moneyball" is therefore currently in limbo as the options are weighed. If a new financier doesn‘t emerge by today, Columbia may replace Soderbergh (while praying Pitt remains committed), delay the film until Pascal and the filmmaker find themselves in synch on the script or pull the plug completely.
|
Demetri Martin takes a swing at "Moneyball"
21 April 2009
American comedian Demetri Martin will aim to take a step closer to the Hollywood limelight as he stars alongside Brad Pitt in Columbia Pictures and director Steven Soderbergh‘s "Moneyball". The film is an adaptation of the Michael Lewis book about baseball player–turned–Oakland Athletics General Manager, Billy Beane, and his attempt to field a competitive team on a slim payroll.
Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a Harvard graduate who turned down Wall Street jobs to use his statistical skills to change baseball–scouting tactics. His system, known as "Earned Run Value", allowed Beane (Pitt) to evaluate valuable players he could hire at low cost.
Also joining the roster is a group of actual baseball players: former Oakland Athletics‘ team members David Justice and Scott Hatteberg have signed on to play themselves in the picture. Shooting begins in June.
Martin, who wrote, produced and stars in the Comedy Central series "Important Things With Demetri Martin", also stars in the upcoming Ang Lee–directed "Taking Woodstock" for Focus Features.
|
Pitt wants to be shown the "Moneyball"
06 February 2009
Steven Soderbergh, fresh from his promotional slog for "Che Parts One and Two", is in early talks to direct "Moneyball", a property adapted for Columbia Pictures from Michael Lewis‘ bestselling book, "Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game". And when it comes to making winning, crowd–pleasing numbers like this, there is none better than Soderbergh (as evidenced by his fun stint on the "Ocean‘s Eleven" series). But who will star? Well, Soderbergh‘s Little Black Book contains few numbers but they‘re good numbers – one of which belongs to Mr. Brad Pitt who has been confirmed in the leading role.
Rather disappointingly, this will now be Soderbergh‘s next directing venture after his abortive "Cleo" well and truly hit the skids. He had been expected to next direct the grand Cleopatra adaptation with Catherine Zeta–Jones set to play the title character and Hugh Jackman to don the sandals of Antony. Despite having the financial backing in place, Soderbergh decided to push back the film until next year, after Jackman dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with many pointing to the recent slew of "Wolverine" reshoots as the cause of the concern.
"Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game" centered around the character of Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics Club, who uses sophisticated computer analysis systems to piece together a team that regularly contended for the World Series despite possessing a payroll dramatically lower than big–market rivals like the New York Yankees. In effect Billy was the Sam Allerdyce of his generation. Only good.
|
|
