Demetri Martin swings at 'Moneyball'

Comic to star opposite Brad Pitt in Soderbergh pic

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Martin

Pitt

Soderbergh

Columbia Pictures and director Steven Soderbergh have set Demetri Martin to star alongside Brad Pitt in "Moneyball," the adaptation of the Michael Lewis book about ballplayer-turned-Oakland Athletics g.m. Billy Beane and his attempt to field a competitive team on a slim payroll.

Also joining the roster is a group of actual baseball players: former Oakland A's team members David Justice and Scott Hatteberg have signed on to play themselves in the picture, while Daryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra are among those who will be seen on camera being interviewed about their experiences with Beane when he was a phenom drafted by the New York Mets before flaming out and becoming a baseball scout. Shooting begins in June.

Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a Harvard grad who turned down Wall Street jobs to use his statistical skills to change baseball scouting tactics. His system, known as "Earned Run Value," allowed Beane to evaluate valuable players he could hire at low cost.

Beane was a bright student himself who passed up a chance to attend Stanford and instead took the money to turn pro as a ballplayer. He always regretted a money-motivated decision and found a new purpose in putting together championship-caliber teams without a lot of money. Pitt plays Beane.

Steve Zaillian is doing a polish on a script originated by Stan Chervin, and Rachael Horovitz, Michael De Luca and Greg Jacobs are producing.

Martin, who wrote, produced and stars in the Comedy Central series "Important Things With Demetri Martin," stars in the Ang Lee-directed "Taking Woodstock" for Focus Features. The film will be released Aug. 14.