Steven Spielberg decided to pass on making true-life tale American Sniper earlier this month, but that has not slowed the momentum on the film. With Bradley Cooper still producing and starring and Warner Bros. in sole charge of its future, everyone involved has moved quickly to find a replacement, with Clint Eastwood now in talks.
Jason Hall adapted Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s book, subtitled The Autobiography Of The Most Lethal Sniper In US Military, which recorded Kyle’s career as a Texas-born shooter who notched the highest recorded number of kills for an American. But his dedication to his sights and his SEAL mates has an impact on his relationship with his wife. And in a tragic twist, Kyle was killed at a shooting range by a fellow veteran who he and a friend were trying to help deal with his experiences in the military.
Eastwood seems like a fair swap for Spielberg, though there could be timing issues: the J. Edgar director is about to start work on the film version of Jersey Boys and American Sniper needs to be in front of cameras early next year to fit in with Cooper’s busy schedule. So we may still have to wait and see on this one…