Ever since Life Of Pi there have been various rumours and reports about what Ang Lee might direct next, but there’s been nothing that seemed particularly certain. However now it appears he’s found what he wants to do, as Deadline reports he’s signed up to helm Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on Ben Fountain’s novel.
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) wrote the script, which ‘tells the funny and heartbreaking story of 19-year-old soldier Billy Lynn and his squad, who survive an Iraq battle that is captured by embedded news cameras, causing them to become celebrated as heroes. They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour that culminates at the halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game in Texas, before they are returned to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the game, with flashes away to other events.’
Ang Lee comments, “I am very excited to be going back to work and to be collaborating with my old friend Tom Rothman. The most important thing to me is storytelling and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is a story that immediately gripped me. I look forward to starting the creative process with this extraordinary team of collaborators.”
It’s not clear when it will shoot.