Columbia pitches 'Moneyball' to Pitt

Zaillian to write, Frankel to direct adaptation

By TATIANA SIEGEL

Brad Pitt is adding to his busy schedule by playing ball for Columbia.

Steve Zaillian has signed on to adapt Michael Lewis’ nonfiction bestseller "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game," and David Frankel is attached to direct. Project is being developed as a potential starring vehicle for Brad Pitt.

Book’s subject is Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who assembled a contending baseball club on a shoestring budget by employing a sophisticated computer-based analysis to draft players.

Michael De Luca is producing alongside Rachael Horovitz.

Stan Chervin penned an earlier draft based of the book, which Sony optioned in 2004. "Moneyball" was first published by W. W. Norton in 2003.

Zaillian last teamed with the studio on "All the King’s Men," which he wrote, directed and produced. His recent screenplay credits include "American Gangster" and "Gangs of New York."

Frankel, who directed Fox 2000’s "The Devil Wears Prada," most recently helmed the Owen Wilson-Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "Marley & Me," also for Fox 2000. That film opens Christmas Day.

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