Pitt
Eyeing a chance to cast Brad Pitt as gunslinger Jesse James, Warner Bros. has formed a posse with Plan B, Scott Free and director Andrew Dominik to make a Western out of Robert Hansen novel "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."
Dominik, an Australian vet of commercials and musicvideos, is in talks to write the script and direct. Plan B's Pitt, Brad Grey and Jennifer Aniston will produce with Scott Free's Tony and Ridley Scott.
The book focused on Robert Ford as a way to tell the James legend. Ford was a member of the James gang and started out worshipping the exploits of the fastest gun in the West. He eventually became envious and figured he'd take over the gang and garner his own reputation by shooting James in the back.
Dominik's directorial debut, "Chopper," sparked Pitt's interest to find a project to do with Dominik.
The book sale was brokered by Hotchkiss and Associates for Sterling Lord, and the driving force behind the deal was Dominik. The helmer found the book while adapting the Alfred Bester sci-fi novel "The Demolished Man" for a film he will direct at Paramount.
WB exec Kevin McCormick will steer the Jesse James pic.
Deal gives WB-based Plan B another potential Pitt vehicle. Plan B gets under way this year when it produces with Richard Zanuck "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Tim Burton will direct Johnny Depp in the pic. Pitt is also expected to topline the Plan B-produced WB pics "The Hatfields and the McCoys," to be directed by Michael Mann, and "Infernal Affairs," to be helmed by Martin Scorsese.
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