Clint Eastwood Very Likely Taking Over Spielberg's 'American Sniper'

Come on, did anybody really think Steven Spielberg was actually going to direct a movie called American Sniper next? Sure, it sounds like a good project, it has potential, but I was never convinced that Spielberg would actually direct it after finishing Lincoln and leaving Robopocalypse on the backburner, too. It was first reported that Speilberg was dropping out of the American Sniper earlier this month due to budget issues, then it was rumored that Warner Bros was going after Clint Eastwood as his replacement. Now it's official - Deadline says Eastwood is in "tentative" negotiations to take the helm and direct Bradley Cooper.

The film is based on Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's autobiography titled American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History with a screenplay adapted by Jason Hall, who wrote the flop Paranoia. It tells the story of how Kyle racked up the most confirmed kills for an American during his time in the armed forces. Bradley Cooper will play Chris Kyle, and produce the film, but no other cast has been set yet. Warner Bros is fast-tracking the project with an aim to start filming in early 2014. Clint Eastwood is preparing to direct Jersey Boys this fall, and will likely jump right into American Sniper as soon as he finishes that. I would've loved to see Spielberg's American Sniper, but I'm less excited for Eastwood's take.