Steven Spielberg Considering 'The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara'

It's been well over a year since Lincoln hit theaters, and director Steven Spielberg still hasn't figured out his next project. However, at least one more possibility has surfaced as Variety reports the filmmaker is considering reteaming with writer Tony Kushner, the man behind the Best Picture nominated presidential biopic's screenplay and also Spielberg's powerful Munich for another religious drama called The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. As of now Spielberg at least plans to produce the co-production between DreamWorks and The Weinstein Company, and he's considering the project as a directing gig too.

The film would be based on David Kertzer's non-fiction book, and here's the synopsis:

Bologna: nightfall, June 1858. A knock sounds at the door of the Jewish merchant Momolo Mortara. Two officers of the Inquisition bust inside and seize Mortara's six-year-old son, Edgardo. As the boy is wrenched from his father's arms, his mother collapses. The reason for his abduction: the boy had been secretly "baptized" by a family servant. According to papal law, the child is therefore a Catholic who can be taken from his family and delivered to a special monastery where his conversion will be completed. With this terrifying scene, prize-winning historian David I. Kertzer begins the true story of how one boy's kidnapping became a pivotal event in the collapse of the Vatican as a secular power.

Kushner is working on the script right now, and while Spielberg is anxious to direct another film soon, this will not be his next project. So what will be? Well, supposedly he's choosing between two projects: the previously gestating adaptation of Robopocalypse and the historical drama Montezuma from writer Steve Zailian. However, the script for Montezuma is still being worked on, making it less likely to keep Spielberg's attention to be his next film as director. On the other hand, the rewrite on Robopocalypse is complete, and the budget is almost finalized. Plus, Chris Hemsworth is still attached, and definitely wants to fit the film into his schedule after The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Stay tuned to see how this all plays out.

1 DAVIDPD on Apr 18, 2014

2 Chris Groves on Apr 18, 2014

3 MattPeloquin on Apr 20, 2014

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