In development for at least a couple of years at Film4, the adaptation of Ben Fountain’s novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk has won not only additional support from TriStar but now a director. Ang Lee has made a deal to make the film as his follow-up to Life Of Pi.
Adapted by Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy, the book’s story follows the titular 19 year-old soldier, who along with his squad has survived a tough battle in Iraq that made headlines and turned the troops into instant celebrities.
Shipped home for a promotional tour by the army, they’re scheduled to return to combat after the final engagement of the trip, a halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day American football game in Texas. As the game progresses, we see flashbacks to what Billy and his platoon endured in the heat of battle. The novel received rave reviews and is described as alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, so it should be something Lee can get his teeth into.
The director is still developing his planned 3D boxing film set around the Thrilla In Manila fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, but budget issues surrounding the VFX and style of the film are causing delays. This could be a way for Lee to make something equally good while he sorts that movie out.