Soderbergh, Pitt roll with 'Moneyball' (VAR, HI)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

Steven Soderbergh is in talks to direct "Moneyball" which Brad Pitt has been circling as a starring vehicle since last year. The Columbia Pictures film is an adaptation of Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game" about Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's.

Beane used a computer analysis system to put together a team that regularly contended for the World Series despite a payroll dramatically lower than such rivals as the New York Yankees.

Las year, Steve Zaillian signed on to adapt the book after original scriptwriter Stan Chervin exited the project. "Marley and Me" helmer David Frankel had also been attached.

According to Entertainment Weekly sources, Pitt parted ways with Frankel after he screened "Marley & Me" on the Sony lot and met with the director during the week of the Golden Globes. Frankel is now said to be trying to negotiate a deal with Fox 2000 for “The Big Year,” which the studio is trying to buy now that Paramount has let it go.

Michael De Luca and Rachael Horovitz are producing "Moneyball" which will likely be Soderbergh's next project although he had been expected to next direct "Cleo," a musical about the Egyptian queen and Marc Antony. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Hugh Jackman were attached to the project but the latter had to drop out due to scheduling issues and Soderbergh decided to push back the film until next year.