Is Bigelow or Malick Shooting the Taliban?

Published by Jeff Leins on: January 15th, 2010

Kathryn Bigelow, the director who reinvigorated her career with 2009’s stellar film The Hurt Locker and stands as the front-runner for “Best Director” in March, may be taking on the Taliban.

According to Production Weekly’s Twitter feed, Bigelow is attached to direct an adaptation of David Rhodes’ 5-part series of New York Times articles titled “Held by the Taliban” about his experiences held by the terrorist organization in Afghanistan for seven months.

The material seems a perfect fit after her most recent film, however the Hollywood Reporter learned Bigelow is not attached, and the Times is still waiting for offers on the package from the studios.  Their blog claims producers Frank Marshall (Indiana Jones series) and Kathleen Kennedy are attached.

Meanwhile, multi-hyphenated talent Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) has “tossed his name in the Taliban ring.”  It’s intriguing because Malick directs a movie about once a decade and his Brad Pitt-starring movie The Tree of Life is planned for sometime this year.

As if that wasn’t confusing enough, MTV News spoke with a New York Times representative who claims there’s no deal and no one is attached.  I don’t know what to believe anymore.  This reminds me of the time the Taliban attacked America and the government invaded the wrong country.

Bigelow is likely out of the picture unless it comes after filming on Triple Frontier, an action adventure movie where she’ll re-team with Hurt Locker screenwriter Mark Boal.  Though she’s currently only attached as an executive producer.