Brad Pitt Tackles the Economy In "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine"

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Paramount Pictures and Plan B have picked up film rights to Michael Lewis' non-fiction tome "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine," says Variety.

According to Variety: Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B are closing in on a deal to the film rights to “Moneyball” author Michael Lewis’ upcoming Wall Street book, "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine."

Lewis' book, which comes out in March, chronicles the recent free fall of the American economy (in particular, the crippled housing market), seen through the eyes of a large group of characters. It also centers on the various decisions by Wall Street power brokers, banker and mortgage agents that led to the complete collapse of the housing market in the fall of 2008.

Pitt clearly likes Michael Lewis. The actor was slated to star in Steven Soderbergh’s adaptation of “Moneyball,” which stalled out last year and is now in Bennett Miller’s hands. Hopefully this time around the film will actually get made. Pitt will produce and also consider starring.

“The Blind Side,” which is an adaptation of one of Lewis’ books, just received two Oscar nominations, for Best Picture and Best Actress (Sandra Bullock), and his new book just might be a Brad Pitt starring vehicle. I guess it’s a great week to be Michael Lewis.

No production dates have been set.