Pitt and Soderbergh 'Moneyball' Set for June Start
Demetri Martin and a few jocks lined up to join the cast
Variety reports the Steven Soderbergh directed feature Moneyball based on the Michael Lewis book is set to begin filming in June with Brad Pitt in the lead role. The news also tells us Demetri Martin, a comedian who will next be seen in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock, has joined the cast along with a few actual ball players.
The film will focus on Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, as he used a sophisticated computer analysis system to piece together a team that regularly contended for the World Series despite possessing a payroll dramatically lower than big-market rivals like the New York Yankees.
The ball players joining the cast include former Oakland A's team members David Justice and Scott Hatteberg who will play themselves, while Daryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra will be seen giving on camera interviews about their experiences with Beane.
Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a Harvard grad who turned down Wall Street jobs to use his statistical skills to change baseball scouting tactics. His system, known as "Earned Run Value," allowed Beane to evaluate valuable players he could hire at low cost.
Steve Zaillian (American Gangster) penned the script.










