Eastwood set for 'Crimes'

He'll direct and star in Schiff-scripted suspense thriller

By PAUL KARON

Academy Award-winner Clint Eastwood has announced his next feature project, signing on to direct and star in the suspense thriller "True Crimes," which he'll produce with Richard Zanuck and Lili Fini Zanuck for Warner Bros.

Pic, slated to start production in May, is based on Andrew Klavan's bestselling novel about the 26 hours preceding a condemned man's execution as a down-and-out newspaperman (Eastwood) works desperately to prove the prisoner's innocence in light of newly discovered evidence.

"True Crime" will be Eastwood's 21st outing as director.

Script is by Stephen Schiff ("Lolita," "The Deep End of the Ocean").

Eastwood and Richard Zanuck previously collaborated on 1975 action film "The Eiger Sanction."

Eastwood-directed "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" bowed late last year. His western "Unforgiven" won four Oscars, including the honors for best picture and best director.

The Zanucks won an Oscar for their 1990 film "Driving Miss Daisy."

Eastwood was repped in the deal by his agent Leonard Hirschan, of William Morris, and attorney Bruce Ramer.