Iwo Jima 'Flags' fly at D'Works

Eastwood eyes WWII project; Haggis penning script

By NICOLE LAPORTE

Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is in talks to direct an adaptation of the book "Flags of Our Fathers," by James Bradley and Ron Powers, for DreamWorks.

Paul Haggis is writing the script.

The book, which chronicles one man's attempt to piece together his father's role in raising the American flag on Iwo Jima during WWII, was optioned by DreamWorks in 2000, the year it was published. Recently, the studio renewed its option.

Pic marks the second collaboration between Eastwood and Steven Spielberg, who first teamed on "The Bridges of Madison County."

As a producer, Spielberg has done well with WWII pics, including "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List," which he also directed. In 2001, he was a producer on the HBO series "Band of Brothers."

Eastwood received an Oscar nomination as director for last year's "Mystic River."

Eastwood and Haggis are at work on "Million Dollar Baby," starring Morgan Freeman, at Warner Bros. Eastwood is toplining and directing; Haggis is a writer-producer on the film.