David Cronenberg circling 'Matarese'

October 07, 2008 The veteran writer-director -- who jumped from ICM to Endeavor last week -- is negotiating to helm "The Matarese Circle," a political thriller and potential franchise generator for MGM. In the 1979 book, two rival intelligence agents -- one American, one Soviet -- find themselves working together to ferret out and vanquish members of a mysterious group of criminals called the Matarese that has infiltrated the highest levels of American government. In April, MGM and Relativity Media outbid several other suitors for the Ludlum book, reportedly spending more than $4 million for the book and writer package.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.