“Starring Oscar nominee Jonah Hill” That’s a bit of marketing play you better start getting used to because with Oscar recognition now under his belt, and having show off his range in both “Cyrus” and the awards season horse “Moneyball,” there are going to be plenty more opportunities outside of comic roles for Jonah Hill and it looks like he’s striking while the iron is hot.
Hill will be teaming with fellow Apatow crew fave James Franco for “True Story,” produced by none other than Billy Beane himself, Brad Pitt through his Plan B shingle. Based on the memoir by journalist Michael Finkel, the absolutely bizarre story will find Hill playing the author of the book, who formerly worked for the New York Times, and found his life take a stranger turn when Christian Longo (Franco) — a wanted man on the FBI Top Ten list for mudering his family — was arrested in Mexico. The twist? He was living under the name Michael Finkel. The New York Times then fired Finkel saying he had made up portions of an investigate report. Things get even stranger when Longo says that the only representative of the press he’ll speak to, is Finkel. Bonkers.
The project isn’t quite a done deal as it needs financing, but with two Oscar nominees in starring roles (remember, Franco got a nod for “127 Hours“) and the power of Pitt behind it, that shouldn’t be a problem. Rupert Goold, who recently completed “Richard II” with Patrick Stewart for television, will direct. [Deadline]
