Ang Lee Tipped For "Long Halftime Walk"

The Wrap reports that "Life of Pi" and "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee is the frontrunner to helm "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," a film adaptation of author Ben Fountain's acclaimed Iraq War novel.

The dark satire follows a ninteen-year-old Texas-born infantryman and his fellow U.S. servicemen who survive a firefight in Iraq in 2005. The Bush administration brings them home for a victory lap that leads them to the Dallas Cowboys’ football stadium where they're honored during the team's Thanksgiving halftime show. Then they return to war.

Lee has been working on a 3D boxing film for Universal that will include the famed 'Thrilla in Manila' fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, but that project is on hold for budgetary reasons.

Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") has written the adapted script.

Simon Cornwell, Stephen Cornwell and Rhodri Thomas are slated to produce.