CONFIRMED: Damon Will be Fincher’s Eliot Ness for ‘Torso’ Adaptation

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 5, 2008

Having our main office in Columbus, Ohio gives us a lot of perks. For one, there aren’t any pesky celebrities around to drop by unannounced with an entourage of beautiful, open-minded women carrying multiple kegs and a bathtub full of Milk Duds. How annoying would that be? Secondly, Hayden Falls is gorgeous near sunset. And finally, once every millennium when a film is shot in Cleveland, we get an inside track on what’s going down. This millennium’s film is David Fincher’s adaptation of Brian Bendis and Marc Andreyko’s graphic novel, “Torso,” and today we can give you confirmations aplenty.

A source involved in the production has confirmed that Matt Damon will be playing Eliot Ness – the iconic head of The Untouchables and Cleveland Chief of Police during the brutal Torso Murders, that Ehren Kruger will be penning the script, and that Paramount is starting production on it in February or March of next year.

Rumors circulated yesterday via the devilishly handsome JoBlo.com and the handsomely devilish firstshowing.net after local newspaper The Plain Dealer, dropped the tidbit about Damon being tapped for the project.Today, we can conclusively confirm that the rumor is true. Which makes it less of a rumor and more of a fact. Not really a rumor at all really. No need for a question mark at the end of our headline.

We can also confirm that Cleveland may lose the production if they don’t pony up some sweet tax incentives.

Basically, if you want to film there, you’ve got about six days to make it happen before the weight of some awesome taxes come crashing down. Without tax incentives, the production may have to settle for exteriors in Cleveland and the rest of the shots in Michigan. One Great Lake is as good as another right?

Kruger has a strong list of writing credits including Arlington Road, The Ring, The Skeleton Key and the forthcoming Tranformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Damon was last seen being one of the most famous actors currently working.

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Will C

This sounds like a pretty interesting film. I like Damon as an actor and this he would make a good Elliott Ness. It's going to be fun to see what new information comes out as time goes on.

eventally

Not to be pedantic, but did your source explain how Damon can simultaneously film for Fincher in Cleveland and for Eastwood in South Africa? (for the Human Factor, which has actually been officially announced) If Damon has had himself cloned, I would like to get in on that.

ILRYN

heard about damon staring in this 2 years ago, its about time hes comfired. hopefully c-
town doest blow it.

fracaso

MATT DAMON!!!

Cole Abaius

@ eventally

It makes sense actually. There's no definite filming start date for The Human Factor except "early 2009," which could mean as late as June. Fincher wants to start filming as soon as possible (February) - while avoiding the winter in Ohio - probably to avoid a conflict with Damon's schedule.

It's not an FX heavy movie, so it could probably be filmed in 40-60 days.

But don't worry - you don't sound pedantic. It's actually a good opportunity to explain further.

Have no doubt, though - Damon is in the picture.

alex michalka

this film needs to be shot in cleveland! i have had the privilage in my film class of seeing some of the possible locations in cleveland to be filmed and it looks great!. its about time clevelanders have something to look forward to since A Christmans Story.

CONFIRMED: Damon Will be Fincher’s Eliot Ness for ‘Torso’ Adaptation

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