Universal snags 'Survivor' story

Peter Berg to adapt, direct feature

By DAVE MCNARY, DIANE GARRETT, DIANE GARRETT

Berg

Universal is the "Lone Survivor" in the tug of war over Marcus Luttrell's life story. Peter Berg will adapt and direct the feature about a Navy Seal who led a team into Afghanistan on a mission to kill a Taliban leader but was the only one to survive.

Several producers were vying for the tome, published by Little, Brown in June after Luttrell exited the service. Attorney Alan U. Schwartz of Greenberg Traurig, who helped Luttrell find a publisher for his account, arranged for the former soldier to meet with potential writers and producers for the film version of his story.

Luttrell bonded with Berg, who had used Navy Seals in the making of upcoming Universal release "The Kingdom," paving the way for U to buy the tome and underlying life rights for Berg's Film 44 shingle, Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road Prods. and Barry Spikings' Spikings Entertainment.

Goldsman, Spikings and Sarah Aubrey, Berg's producing partner, are producers on the project. Berg and Kerry Foster of Weed Road are exec producing.

"Lone Survivor" is expected to be Berg's next project.

Berg directed "The Kingdom," another pic revolving around terrorism themes. It bows Sept. 28, one of a spate of war-related pics coming this year; others include "In the Valley of Elah," "Lions for Lambs," "Grace Is Gone" and "Charlie Wilson's War."

Goldsman is currently producing "I Am Legend." Aubrey produced "The Kingdom" and "Friday Night Lights." Spikings' credits include "The Deer Hunter."