MGM buys Neil Strauss' THE GAME, hires Koppelman and Levien to write and direct

MGM has purchased the rights to Neil Strauss' best-selling novel, The Game, and have hired  Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Solitary Man). THR reports that Koppelman and Levien will rewrite and direct the adaptation about picking up women. The film be based on the book which is part memoir, part how-to guide and "it details Strauss's effort to learn the tricks to becoming a successful pick-up artist, even moving into a Sunset Strip mansion filled with other competing players to find love."

This project has bumped from studio-to-studio. It was first at Columbia with Chris Weitz attached to direct, then it shacked up with Spyglass with D.B. Weiss writing. Later, Lionsgate made a pass at an incarnation with Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to helm. Fox Searchlight also flirted with the project, but Game has now made its way to MGM, with Chris and Paul Weitz are attached to produce. The studio, Koppelman and Levien plan to move fast with The Game and want to begin casting soon.

In addition to Solitary Man, Koppelman and Levine wrote Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 drama The Girlfriend Experience, as well as Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Thirteen. They first gained attention with the poker drama Rounders, and then went on to 2001 mob drama Knockaround Guys.

This sounds like a good project for them. It will be interesting to see who they decide to cast in the lead. What are your thoughts on this news?