More evidence of the “alleged” Paramount/Fincher beef?
The graphic novel adaptation 0f “Torso,” (the film title now apparently “Ness”) which David Fincher has been expected to make for some time now is reportedly at risk. Despite a promising cast, it could dissolve since the film rights expire December 15th and Paramount has yet to give it the green-light and are potentially and purposefully dragging their heels.
The graphic novel chronicles the true story of the 1930’s Cleveland torso mass murders and has such names as Matt Damon, Rachael McAdams and Casey Affleck attached. Hollywood Insider claims that “A source inside the negotiations says Damon and Affleck are ready to go, and that McAdams has expressed interest, but Paramount has yet to pull the proverbial trigger. At press time, the studio insisted it only recently received a finalized script from Ehren Kruger (The Ring) and would make a decision before the rights ran out.”
Paramount and Fincher have been butting heads all year. First of all they were giving him grief over the running time of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” in September (then over 3 hours long) and allegedly dropped his remake of the animated “Heavy Metal” movie as a way to punish him. Then they apparently kissed and made up, but earlier this week reports in the pres said that Paramount people were sick of dealing with Fincher and his notoriously picky ways in promoting ‘Ben Button.’
Does this prove that things haven’t been patched up? No, but it sure suggests it. We’re not the only ones putting these simple clues together. Rope Of Silicon is posting the same thing we are, but suggesting Paramount might want to do the project with another director.
Update: Jeffrey Wells is hearing that Paramount is stalling because they’d rather him make that “chef comedy” with Keanu Reeves instead.