'Moneyball' Cashed Out

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2008 file photo, director Steven Soderbergh arrives to the New York Film Festival screening of the film "Che", in New York. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, file)

(AP)

Brad Pitt and Steven Soderbergh's baseball tale "Moneyball" has been benched just days before the start of shooting.

Sony pulled the plug late last week after Soderbergh turned in a rewritten script substantially different than an earlier draft by screenwriter Steven Zaillian (ZAY'-lee-uhn). That's according to a source close to the production who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

The source says Sony gave Soderbergh the opportunity to set the project up at a different studio.

Soderbergh's manager declined to comment.

Production had been scheduled to start this week. The script is based on Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball," about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane.

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