Movies News
WB & Columbia battle it out over spy flick
By M&C Movie News Jan 13, 2007, 11:18 GMT
Walter Litvinenko, the father of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko presents two books of his son about activity of Russian KGB during his news conference in Kiev on Thursday, 21 December 2006. Alexander Litvinenko, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill 01 November 2006 in London, and died about three weeks later with large quantities of the radioactive substance polonium-210 found in his body. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
In this corner, its Johnny Depp and Warner Bros. and in the other corner its Columbia Pictures and Michael Mann. What are they fighting about? The recently deceased ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko who was allegedly poisoned.
Warner has purchased rights to “Sasha's Story: The Life and Death of a Russian Spy,” a book on Litvinenko which they have turned over to Depp to develop and possibly star.
The WB also appears to have lined up John Malkovich to star in another movie based on a book co-authored by Litvinenko, "Blowing Up Russia", the British Independent newspaper reported January 13.
The Independent also reported that publishers Simon And Schuster have signed Litvinenko's widow Marina and Alex Goldfarb, a friend who became the family's spokesman during his illness, to write a book about the Litvinenko killing.
Columbia reportedly slapped down $500k deposit on $1.5 million price for screen rights to ‘Death of a Dissident,’ the Simon and Schuster tome. The book will be published in May, 2007.
Sources report that bidding between Warner and Columbia for the Simon & Schuster novel was fierce but Columbia walked away the victor.
Both movies will be spy thrillers.
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