By Lee Pfeiffer
Variety reports that Columbia Pictures head honcho Amy Pascal has put a halt to filming of director Steven Soderbergh and Brad Pitt's new film
Moneyball just days before production was to begin. Pascal said that Soderbergh's re-write of the script drastically altered the storyline that she had given the green light to. Soderbergh is now seeking another studio to take on the $50 million baseball-themed film. It's not unusual for production deals to fall apart, but it is rare that they do so this late in the day and involving this level of high profile talent. However, even though $50 million seems like a low budget film these days, Columbia obviously feels the project is too risky. Soderbergh's directorial efforts have largely been box-office bombs with the exception of his
Oceans Eleven movies and Pitt's record has been spotty at best. Add to the mix the fact that few baseball movies have resonated as financial successes, and you have plenty of reasons to explain Pascal's reluctance to proceed with the film. There's also the chance that the storyline, which is based on a book by Michael Lewis, is too inside baseball. Soderbergh plans to incorporate interviews with and performances by actual players into the film. For more
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