Sony takes on 'Enemies' for Clarke book

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | April 10, 2004 | Gregg Kilday

[Bubba_Leroy]

Sony Pictures has optioned film rights to Richard Clarke's nonfiction best seller "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror" for producer John Calley.

"Enemies" -- which was published last month by the Free Press, a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster -- has been at the center of the current national debate about America's readiness to respond to terrorist threats before Sept. 11. Clarke, who was a counterterrorism expert in the administrations of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, appeared before the 9/11 Commission the week the book was published. During that hearing, he testified that the Bush White House didn't consider terrorism "an urgent issue" in the months before the al-Qaida attacks on New York and Washington.

His political memoir, currently in second place on Amazon.com's sales ranking, offers Clarke's assessment of the anti-terrorist efforts of the past four White Houses, all of which he worked in. "The book, written in a compelling, highly readable style, at times almost seems like a fiction thriller," Amazon.com reviewer John Moe wrote.

Calley, who stepped down as chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment in the fall, is producing such films as Mike Nichols' "Closer," an adaptation of Patrick Marber's play about two couples that is scheduled for a December release, and the big-screen adaptation of the fiction best seller "The Da Vinci Code," along with producer Brian Grazer and director Ron Howard.

Clarke was repped by ICM in the deal.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Oh boy. Won't this be an exciting movie. Maybe they can try and top it with a 4 hour movie about paint drying.

[TommyDale]

I would rather applaud haircuts. This is already on my boycott list!

[Spruce]

Yet another item for the collection of evidence. Mr. Clarke should be a wee-bit more private.

[squarebarb]

So he gets money for an option and then money when the movie goes into production, and he laughs when it flops.

Why doesn't Hollywood just take piles of cash out into the street and set it on fire?

It would be far more entertaining.

[NotchJohnson]

and the big-screen adaptation of the fiction best seller "The Da Vinci Code

This is an ex Sony exec that has lots of dough, time, and an agenda. The Da Vinci Code probably pisses regular people off so he will do that movie. Same with Clarkes book. Next could be a a Mein Kamph adaptation.

[dead]

They should sign Jon Lovitz for the lead.

And, of course, his wife should be played by none other than Morgan Fairchild. That's right. Morgan Fairchild.

[JennysCool]

The fifth column continues supporting its own.

[sergeantdave]

Sony wants to cut its throat and bleed all over everyone''s TV screen. I'm impressed.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

"The book, written in a compelling, highly readable style, at times almost seems like a fiction thriller"

Yeah... almost. (snicker/)

An option that gets everybody's name in the news for a day doesn't mean much. My bet is the project will never get out of development hell.

[pawdoggie]

My predictions: This wll be one of the fastest turnarounds of a book to movie in Hollywood history. Noted screenwriter and coke-head Aaron Sorkin (The Left Wing) will write the screenplay (Woodward and Bernstein will be brought in as "Washington Consultants"). Rob Reiner (who else?) will direct. A heavily made-up Russell Crowe, in a virtual reprise of his role in "The Insider", will play Richard Clarke. Halle Berry will probably play Condi Rice (although this could result in some serious "artistic license", as it will doubtless involve adding a romantic subplot between "bad-boy" Crowe/Clarke and Ms. Berry/Ms Rice).

Danny Glover will play Colin Powell. Robin Williams will play President Bush. Bill Clinton, in a special guest role, will play a grieving 9/11 family member. Release tentatively set for October 28, 2004.

[Huck]

Robin Williams wins Best Actor as Richard Clarke.

[Huck]

I think Denzel would play Powell.