Possible Strikeout for Soderbergh’s Moneyball

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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Sports, Filmmaking, Scripts

It looks like Moneyball may have struck out just days before its planned start.

Although production was set to begin on Monday, Columbia Pictures head Amy Pascal has placed the film in limited turnaround. This means the adaptation of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game might not be seen at all. Brad Pitt had been committed to play Billy Beane, the real-life baseball player turned Oakland A’s manager. The book told the story of Beane’s use of computer-based analysis - instead of a deep pocket book - to build a competitive baseball team.

Read More | Variety

The project was given a greenlight based on an earlier draft written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Steve Zaillian (Schindler’s List). Unfortunately, a final version that was touched up by Steven Soderbergh (the movie’s director) forced Pascal to halt production. If another studio does not come forward immediately, Columbia will have to reconsider its plans for the film. That could mean another rewrite, a new director or an entire cancellation.

Demetri Martin and a list of baseball stars were also scheduled to appear in the film.