Columbia wins 'Battle' for Bertolini spec

Original Films to produce alien invasion pic

By MICHAEL FLEMING, TATIANA SIEGEL

Columbia Pictures has made a preemptive acquisition of "Battle: Los Angeles," a Chris Bertolini spec about an alien invasion that starts in Santa Monica and heads east toward Los Angeles.

Neal Moritz will produce through his Original Films banner. Original's Ori Marmur and Col's Sam Dickerman brought in the spec.

Bertolini's credits include "The General's Daughter," and he's writing a pilot for Spike TV.