Sony Puts Brakes on Soderbergh’s ‘Moneyball’

Columbia Pictures is no longer backing the Steven Soderbergh-directed, Brad Pitt-starring ‘Moneyball,’ which was set to begin production on Monday in Phoenix.  Columbia head Amy Pascal put the movie into “limited turnaround” on Friday.  This means that Soderbergh could set up production at another studio, and Warner and Paramount appear to be at the top of that list.

Pascal made the decision after Soderbergh and Steve Zaillian turned in their final draft of the screenplay last week.  Pascal found the final draft to be very different from those she previously read and approved of.

Reps for Soderbergh and Pitt spent all weekend trying to find another studio that would back the project for Monday’s start date.  If nothing is found before tomorrow, Columbia will examine their options.  This includes replacing Soderbergh, delaying the film’s start, or scrapping the project altogether.

Although the timing of Pascal’s decision is unusual, it is not strange for a studio to be reluctant to back ‘Moneyball.’  The film, which tells the story of former baseball player and current Oakland Athletics’ general manager, Billy Beane, was set to cost more than $50 million. Even though it has Pitt as its lead, Soderbergh has cast real life baseball players in various roles.  Soderbergh also intends to incorporate interviews he has shot with former baseball stars like Lenny Dykstra and Daryl Strawberry.

Source: Variety