Columbia Drops “Moneyball” Baseball Film
According to reports from the Los Angeles Times , in a very unusual occurrence, Sony has stopped production on the baseball drama based on Michael Lewis’ 2003 bestseller.
The project, just days from the start of shooting, is largely a reflection of current economic conditions as similar adult dramas like “The International” and “State of Play” underperformed at the box office, but creative differences also played a role.
Reportedly the studio had offered “Moneyball’ to Paramount and Warner Bros. after a disagreement over the script with director Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”) which had changed per the Hollywood Reporter ”considerably since the movie was greenlighted last winter.”
Those studios declined and even with Brad Pitt heading the lineup, the costs, exceeding $50 million, was too much for a topic they consider to have limited appeal abroad. Unless another entity takes it on, Sony will absorb close to $10 million that it already has spent on development and pre-production.
-Brad Pitt-
There seems to be this wrongful perception that continues to pervade Hollywood about baseball movies not “traveling”. I’m sure they look at the numbers, but what they should be looking at is the story.THAT is what will sell
hopefully someone resuscitates this project and it gets on the big screen. I have faith in Soderbergh’s vision.
Hey I agree with Sony, they shouldnt have greenlit it anyway, tough sell even with Pitt and Soderbergh