Spielberg Wants to Get His Spy On

Steven Spielberg's attempt to direct a James Bond film is the stuff of legends. He was turned out twice by producer Cubby Broccoli - the first after The Sugarland Express opened and the second after Jaws was declared the highest-grossing film of all-time for its day. As we all know, his disappointment led to him developing on his own action/adventure film with his pal George Lucas called Raiders of the Lost Ark. I hear it worked out well.

Now the trades report that Spielberg is biting at the chance to direct another would-be spy franchise. This time in the form of Matt Helms, based on a series of 60s and 70s era Cold War novels that also served as a film franchise of its own headlined by Dean Martin - albeit campy as Hell.

The problem lies in the fact that the project is set up at Paramount which Spielberg's own studio DreamWorks infamously broke ties from earlier this year. So it won't be as easy for him to take on the gig - especially considering he's now lined up with the Mouse and his upfront salary might be too much for Paramount to swallow just to get him onboard.

Nobody does escpaist entertainment better than the Beard. Hell, his influence on the filmmakers of today is all over the place - just check out Abrams' Star Trek for the most recent example. But at this point in his career, I'd rather see him finally get Lincoln or Interstellar off the ground.

Update: Shit, that was quick. The Beard has opted not to direct Matt Helms, but will oversee the project as a producer while Paramount searches for its director.