Soderbergh, Pitt roll with 'Moneyball'
Director, actor circle Columbia's adaptation
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Steven Soderbergh is in talks to direct "Moneyball," the Columbia Pictures adaptation of Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game."
The book focuses on Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics who used a sophisticated computer analysis system to piece together a team that regularly contended for the World Series despite a payroll dramatically lower than such big-market rivals as the New York Yankees.
Brad Pitt, with whom Soderbergh has worked in all of the "Ocean's" films, has been circling "Moneyball" since last year, when Steve Zaillian signed on to adapt the book after original scripter Stan Chervin exited the project. "Marley and Me" helmer David Frankel had also been attached.
Michael De Luca and Rachael Horovitz are producing.
Soderbergh has always wanted to make a sports film and sparked to the opportunity to reteam with Pitt. Soderbergh is looking to make the picture his next directing assignment.
He had been expected to next direct "Cleo," a musical about the fatal romance between Egyptian queen Cleopatra and Roman general Marc Antony. Soderbergh had lined up his "Traffic" star Catherine Zeta-Jones to play the title character and had Hugh Jackman in his sights for Antony. Though he set his financing, Soderbergh decided to push back the film until next year after Jackman dropped out because of scheduling problems.
Soderbergh, rolling out "Che," most recently completed "The Girlfriend Experience" for 2929 and Warner Bros. comedy "The Informant."
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