Opie Takes on Another Iraq Project

Because you can never have enough movies set in Iraq, Universal has picked a spec script called Last Man Home about, yes, American soldiers in Iraq. The movie takes place way back in the days before we launched a full-scale war against the Iraqi government, and "revolves around a covert U.S. military unit that is on the hunt for an AWOL American soldier in Iraq." As you might expect, the guy went AWOL not because he's a pathetic coward or, worse, someone who opposes US actions in the country, but because he's a really, really huge hero, and is trying to find his brother, who vanished while serving the first Gulf War. What do you think? Colin Farrell as the lead? Oh, or maybe Ashton Kutcher, in his first big move away from comedy? I smell Saving Private Ryan-style Oscar bait!

The frighteningly successful team of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are the primary names currently associated with the project; as usual, Howard will direct while Grazer produces.