Paramount Lets Rights to David Fincher's 'Torso' Lapse
Filed under: Action, Drama, Thrillers, Deals, Mystery & Suspense, Paramount, Scripts, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek
David Fincher must be feeling on top of the world right now, what with 13 Oscar nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a successful box office haul. Yet that's not the kind of credibility that can get your next movie made in Hollywood. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount has let the rights to Brian Michael Bendis' Torso lapse, leaving the project in limbo. "It's a weird and odd situation," Bendis said. "We heard it was greenlit one day, then the next we heard it wasn't. Hopefully, it'll have a happy ending."Paramount has had the rights since 2006, and hired Ehren Kruger to adapt the book. But last month, part of the original rights deal expired and Paramount declined renewing them, and buying them outright. The studio still owns the Kruger screenplay, and is in negotiations to strike a new option agreement with Bendis and Marc Andreyko, to whom the rights reverted. Fincher is still attached as director, though one who is sans screenplay.
It is a very weird situation -- the project has A-List all over it. Not only does it have Fincher directing, but it attracted interest from Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. While based on a graphic novel, it's not superhero stuff, but the true story of Eliot Ness and the Torso Murderer. Considering everyone has been desperate for a sequel to The Untouchables for years, you'd think this was a slam dunk ... but apparently nothing is during these economic times. But as everyone in their right mind wants to see this done, I hope Paramount makes its mind up to stake a claim or let it pass on to another studio.
Is Taylor Lautner Our Next Superhero?
100 Greatest Films Beyond the Canon
'Entourage' Movie in the Works?
Spielberg Backs Out of 'Harvey'
Discuss: Should Gay Actors Stay in the Closet?
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-24-2009 @ 12:07AM
Kevin said...
Benjamin Button is just now getting into the black and Fincher's last unknown serial killer film, Zodiac, was a disappointment at the box office. This story is more Zodiac than Untouchables so I can see why a studio would rather let the project go instead of paying for another draft of the script.
Reply
1-24-2009 @ 9:27AM
Eric said...
What the first guy said, plus it's a period piece ($$). And however good he might be, Casey Affleck is not A-list (Damon sure is, though). I think this may have the most to do with Finsher's attitude: There have been all sorts of stories about his near-legendary ego, but specifically lately with Button's success.
Reply