Dirk Pitt Movie News

Author Cussler Sues Over Unauthorized Script
By Jesse Hiestand

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Best-selling author Clive Cussler sued producer Crusader Entertainment and its parent company on Thursday for allegedly altering a screenplay that Cussler had approved of one of his books.

Cussler, the famed American action/adventure author who has sold more than 125 million books worldwide, wants more than $10 million in damages and an end to his relationship with Crusader, a Beverly Hills based film company owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz.

"Crusader materially altered the approved screenplay without Cussler's written consent, denied Cussler's express screenplay approval rights under the agreement and has began to film a screenplay which it knows was explicitly disapproved by Cussler," according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by attorney Bert Fields.

The parties did not identify the script in question, though Crusader announced in May that Matthew McConaughey (news) had been cast to play Dirk Pitt in the film "Sahara" to be directed by Breck Eisner. Crusader announced in May 2001 that it had secured the rights to Cussler's books and that the first film of the franchise would be based on "Sahara."

Crusader chief operating officer Bill Immerman said the company had not seen the complaint and thus could not comment on it.

According to Cussler's complaint, Crusader acquired options to purchase the motion picture rights to his novels in May 2001, on condition that Cussler had unqualified right of approval over the screenplays and that the approved script would not be materially changed without his written permission. He said Crusader exercised the right to make films of two of his books but subsequently altered the approved script.

The suit seeks to bar Crusader from exercising any further options or rights under their agreement, except for those rights already purchased, as well as at least $10 million in damages.

According to the Internet Movie Data Base (http://www.imdb.com), Clive Cussler's daughter, Dayna, will appear as aviator Kitty Manoff in the "Sahara" feature film.

Cruz circling 'Sahara'
Thesp takes femme lead in Cussler adaptation

By DAVE MCNARY

Penelope Cruz is in negotiations to star in Crusader Entertainment's "Sahara" opposite Matthew McConaughey.
The thesp would take the role of Eva Rojas, a U.N. scientist who is threatened with assassination while investigating a disease driving North Africans into madness and threatening to extinguish life in the world's seas. McConaughey is playing secret agent, treasure hunter and explorer Dirk Pitt. Steve Zahn will portray Pitt's wisecracking sidekick.

"Sahara," based on the Clive Cussler action-adventure novel, will be directed by Breck Eisner and shoot in the U.K. and Morocco.

Cruz, repped by CAA and managed by Katrina Bayonas of Kuranda Films, is toplining helmer Sergio Castellitto's "Non ti muovere" (Don't Move) after learning Italian for the role. She was a nominee for this year's European Film Academy's People's Choice Award for her perf in "Fanfan la tulipe."

Crusader announced last year that it had greenlit an adaptation of "Sahara" as the first film to be based on the Pitt character from Cussler's bestselling novels.

Crusader signed a three-year first-look U.S. distrib deal with Paramount in 2001; Par agreed last year to distribute "Sahara" Stateside and in the U.K., Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

Zahn readying to cross 'Sahara'
Thesp joins Eisner-helmed adaptation of Cussler novel

By DAVE MCNARY

Steve Zahn is in negotiations to star in Crusader Entertainment's "Sahara" with Matthew McConaughey.

Zahn will portray Al Giordino, the wisecracking sidekick to McConaughey's Dirk Pitt character. "Sahara," based on the Clive Cussler action-adventure novels, will be directed by Breck Eisner and shoot in the U.K. and Morocco.

Zahn, repped by Endeavor and managed by LMRK, was most recently in "Daddy Day Care," and he is filming "Employee of the Month" for Bull's Eye Entertainment. He will be seen next in Lions Gate Films' "Shattered Glass," portraying the reporter who revealed that journalist Stephen Glass was inventing many of his stories.

Crusader announced last year that it had greenlit an adaptation of "Sahara" as the first film to be based on the Pitt character in Cussler's bestselling novels. "Sahara" focuses on McConaughey's character thwarting an attempted assassination of a U.N. scientist investigating a raging epidemic in North Africa that threatens to extinguish life in the world's seas.

Crusader signed a three-year, first-look U.S. distrib deal with Paramount in 2001. Par agreed last year to distribute "Sahara" Stateside and in the U.K., Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

McConaughey to join Crusader in 'Sahara' project
April 14, 2003

Matthew McConaughey is in final negotiations to star in and executive produce Crusader Entertainment's big-screen adaptation of Clive Cussler's 1992 novel "Sahara" for director Breck Eisner. The project will begin production in the fall, with Paramount Pictures distributing. "Sahara" is the first installment of the author's best-selling Dirk Pitt series, about an intrepid adventurer and explorer. The book centers on Pitt (McConaughey) searching the Sahara for a toxin that is killing marine life. McConaughey will executive produce the project with Gus Gustawes, his producing partner in their j.k. livin prods. There are 13 Pitt books in Cussler's series, and Crusader hopes that "Sahara" will be the beginning of a franchise with McConaughey at the center. The actor, repped by ICM and attorney Kevin Morris, most recently starred in Paramount Pictures' "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and is attached to star in and produce the studio's romantic comedy "Dear Delilah" (HR 4/9). (Zorianna Kit)

Breck Eisner is in negotiations to helm "Sahara," the first bigscreen version of the Dirk Pitt bestselling action-adventure by Clive Cussler.

Eisner, son of Walt Disney Co. topper Michael Eisner, has established himself as a TV director with an episode of "Steven Spielberg Presents Taken" and pilots for "Thought Crimes" and "The Invisible Man." Eisner, repped by WMA, is also attached to develop action-comedy "Big Ticket" for DreamWorks.

"Sahara" was greenlit last May by Crusader Entertainment, with Paramount picking up domestic distribution along with the U.K., Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand distribution rights. Crusader inked a three-year, first-look U.S. distribution deal with Paramount in 2001.

"Sahara" would introduce Dirk Pitt as a modern-day Indiana Jones. Story would be set in the Sahara Desert and central Africa with Pitt and a U.N. medical team battling a deadly microbe that threatens the global marine environment.

Date in print: Fri., Apr. 11, 2003, Los Angeles

Cruise explores 'Sahara' series

Could Tom Cruise be adding another Paramount Pictures franchise to his dossier, following his successful "Mission: Impossible" series? Sources say the studio is heavily courting the superstar to come aboard to develop, star and produce through his and Paula Wagner's studio-based C/W Prods. a big-screen adaptation of Clive Cussler's 1992 novel "Sahara" for Crusader Entertainment. The project is the first installment of the author's best-selling Dirk Pitt series, about an intrepid adventurer and explorer. There are 13 books in the series, which blend action, adventure and humor. No director is yet on board the project, and Cruise has yet to make a decision. The actor is in preproduction on Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Last Samurai."

From the Monday, June 24, 2002 Los Angeles Times:

Casting About for a Dirk Pitt

By LIZ SMITH

NEW YORK--Author Clive Cussler has been in Hollywood looking for the perfect actor to play Dirk Pitt in the coming film adaptation of his bestselling novel "Sahara." He talked with Crusader Entertainment's Howard and Karen Baldwin and with Paramount's Sherry Lansing. They'll produce and distribute.

No word yet on which star will get to wear the orange-faced Doxa wristwatch featured in Cussler's story. But to play Dirk Pitt, let us make a suggestion: Brad Pitt? ...

CRUSADER CALLS CUSSLER
'Sahara' to be first pic of action-adventure adaptations

By CATHY DUNKLEY

CANNES -- Crusader Entertainment has greenlit an adaptation of "Sahara," in what's planned as the first in a series of movies based on best-selling action-adventure books by Clive Cussler, with production slated to start Oct. 28 for helmer Rob Bowman ("The X-Files").

Pic will be released stateside through Paramount, which inked a three-year, first-look U.S. distribution deal with the Howard Baldwin-headed Crusader in January 2001.

Par also has picked up U.K., Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand distribution rights to the pic, with the remaining international territories being sold through Crusader's international sales agent Summit Entertainment.

"Clive's Dirk Pitt books have an enormous, fanatical following, and his characters and stories demand the kind of bigscreen adaptation that Rob can deliver," said Sherry Lansing, chairman of Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group.

Pic will mainly be shot on the sand dunes of Namibia and is the first installment in the series of books about Pitt, an adventurer and master explorer.

"The weather is perfect for shooting in late October," said Crusader Entertainment prexy Baldwin. "Land, sea and the elements all play a big part in Clive's stories, so we're optimistic that we'll be able to capture an environment befitting the terrific story."

BOWMAN TREKS TO ‘SAHARA’ FOR PAR, CRUSADER
By Zorianna Kit and Chris Gardner

Rob Bowman is in negotiations to direct Crusader Entertainment’s big-screen adaptation of Clive Cussler’s 1992 novel, "Sahara," for Paramount Pictures.

"Sahara" is the first installment of the author’s best-selling Dirk Pitt series, about an intrepid adventurer and explorer. The book centers on Pitt searching the Sahara for a toxin that is killing marine life.

Crusader picked up the rights to all 13 Pitt books this year. Other books in the series, which blends action, adventure and humor, are "Atlantis Found," "Inca Gold" and "Flood Tide."

Bowman, repped by CAA, directed the Walt Disney Co./Spyglass "Reign of Fire" starring Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale set for release next year. He is best known for his work on "The X-Files" television series and went on to direct the 1998 theatrical feature starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.

Crusader, founded by billionaire businessman Philip Anschutz and led by Howard Baldwin, has a three-year, first-look distribution deal with Paramount Pictures. The company, through its classic division, is in production on the Australian feature "Swimming Upstream" starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis.

From the Thursday, August 30, 2001 Los Angeles Times:

Making Deals by the Book
By LIZ SMITH

NEW YORK--People are talking about adventure writer Clive Cussler and the deal made by his agent, Peter Lampack, which some say is "the most successful book-to-movie deal ever made in Hollywood history." For years, Cussler resisted selling his best-selling novels. After his breakthrough book, "Raise the Titanic," he let them make a film of it. The result was a disaster, in his opinion, and he swore never again to give up control of his creations. Now he has made a three-book deal (for "Sahara," "Inca Gold" and another novel yet to be selected). The financial aspects are excellent. Cussler will get $10 million apiece for his three books. In this amazing contract with Crusader Entertainment, the author has final approval of scripts, casting and directors. "Sahara" begins shooting in Tunisia or Morocco some time this fall. The lead role in "Sahara" has not yet been cast, but wonderful William H. Macy of "Fargo" fame is to play the role of Adm. Sandecker....

From the Wednesday, June 20th, Daily Variety:

CUSSLER SETTING SAIL WITH CRUSADER ENT. DEAL
from THE WRITE STUFF by Jonathan Bing

Clive Cussler, author of more than a (dozen) sea-faring adventure yarns, has steered clear of Hollywood since the release of 1980s adaptation of his novel, "Raise the Titanic" which he calls "awful from beginning to end."

But the flood gates have opened. At Cannes, Crusader Entertainment a company owned by financier Philip Anschutz, announced it had tied up rights to all 14 of Cussler's novels featuring intelligence agent Dirk Pitt.

If Crusader manages to turn that series into a franchise, as prexy Howard Baldwin hopes, Cussler will see one of the biggest paydays of any writer whose work has gone to the bigscreen.

The backend on the option for each book is said to be $10 million. Cussler also will have script and casting approval.

The first in the series, "Sahara," set up at Paramount via Crusader's first-look deal at the studio, is being adapted by Jim Hart ("Tuck Everlasting," "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

Cussler's nonfiction book on shipwrecks, "The Sea Hunters," has also been optioned. Nova Scotia-based shingle Eco-Nova Prods. is developing a 19-episode TV docu series based on the book. Show will be distributed by History TV in Canada, National Geographic Channel in the U.S. and internationally by National Geographic Channel Intl., which is in 129 countries and more than 100 million homes. Cussler will personally introduce each episode.

Though Cussler has been approached by Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, George Clooney and other industry heavyweights seeking to option his fiction, he says studios have never been willing to grant him any control over the process.

"They've dealt with weirdo authors before and weren't too keen to give out casting and script approval," Cussler said.

But the Crusader deal wouldn't have happened without the unlikely intervention of Lowell Weicker, former Republican senator and governor of Connecticut and a friend of Baldwin's since the days when Baldwin owned the Hartford Whalers hockey team. Weicker has descended below the waves with Cussler in a research submarine.

Conventional wisdom in Hollywood holds that granting script and casting approval to an author is the death knell of a development deal; it's far from clear at this point whether Crusader will actually get the franchise off the ground.

But Cussler's agent, Peter Lampack, says the process is moving quickly. "There are very few hurdles left to go creatively," he says.

CRUSADER NABS CUSSLER SERIES

by Maria Matzer Rose

Crusader Entertainment, the year-old production company backed by Philip Anschutz, has acquired rights to Clive Cussler's best-selling Dirk Pitt book series, about an intrepid adventurer and explorer. The announcement was made Sunday at the Cannes International Film Festival.

The 1992 novel "Sahara" is the first of 13 Pitt books targeted for development as a film. The book involves Pitt searching the Sahara for a toxin that is killing marine life. Other books in the series, which blends action, adventure and humor, are "Atlantis Found," "Inca Gold" and "Flood Tide."

Commercials director Breck Eisner was developing "Sahara" as a directing vehicle at Crusader as of last summer (HR 7/18) but is no longer involved. A new director has not yet been named.

Crusader president Howard Baldwin said the company plans to turn the books into films "that will appeal to everyone in the family." Cussler praised Crusader executives as "true collaborators (who) have the best interests of my readers and myself in mind."

Crusader has a three-year, first-look deal with Paramount. Paramount Motion Picture Group chairman Sherry Lansing called herself a "huge fan" of Cussler's work. Other projects in development at Beverly Hills-based Crusader include a biopic of Ray Charles and the Renny Harlin-directed "A Sound of Thunder" planned for a fall start. Through its Classics division, Crusader is in production on two films: "Joshua," based on a novel by Joseph Girzone, and "Children on Their Birthdays," based on a short story by Truman Capote.