Taylor sews up deal to adapt 'Button'

Scribe pens for Par without partner

By CLAUDE BRODESSER

Marking his first Hollywood scripting effort without writing partner Alexander Payne, Oscar-nominated scribe Jim Taylor has inked a deal to adapt F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" for Paramount Pictures.

Taylor, who with helmer and co-scribe Alexander Payne penned MTV Films' sardonic "Election" for Paramount, also wrote 1996's "Citizen Ruth."

"Button" tells the story of a man who, at 50, begins aging backward. When he falls in love with a woman of 30, they must deal with the awkward effects his predicament has on their relationship. Pic is being produced by Kennedy/Marshall and Rastar.

Spike Jonze, who made his helming debut on USA Films' "Being John Malkovich," is attached to helm. The two kept running into each other for the better part of the spring at various awards shows -- both "Election" and "Malkovich" were up for WGA, DGA, Indie Spirit and Academy Awards -- and became determined to work on something together.

Jonze, repped by CAA, gained prominence as a music vid helmer, working with such acts as the Beastie Boys and techno star Fat Boy Slim. He is currently also attached to helm "Adaptation" for Columbia, a script by "Malkovich" scribe Charles Kaufman.

Taylor is still working with Payne on "About Schmidt," a pic currently in priority development at Sony's Columbia Pictures as a potential starring vehicle for Jack Nicholson.

Taylor is repped by the William Morris Agency.