An 'Affair' of the art
Gay love tale rounds bases with producer Lang
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Novel concerns a married all-star shortstop who, in the heat of a pennant race, falls in love with his team's second baseman. As the double play combination goes public, scandal ensues.
Book was first optioned in 1992 and has been developed in different incarnations at Disney (twice), Fox and New Line with filmmakers including Betty Thomas and David Frankel attached. Lefcourt, who got the rights back in 2001, just made the deal with Lang. Lefcourt will also be a producer, and John Logigian and Ken Gross will exec produce.
"The success of 'Brokeback Mountain' has changed the zeitgeist, and hopefully the business realizes that people will walk into a theater even if two guys might be kissing, and actors realize it's not career suicide to kiss another man," Lefcourt said.
Lefcourt said the film got closest at New Line, where director Thomas had interest from Ben Affleck and Don Cheadle. Project struck out when Affleck instead did "Pearl Harbor."
"I'll do a new draft of the script, and I don't think the adaptation will take long because I know the problems and opportunities in the screenplay," said Lefcourt, who has done several adaptations in the past.
Lang produced "Duane Hopwood" and the upcoming Kevin Bacon pic "Loverboy."
