‘Calico Joe’, John Grisham’s Baseball Novel, Being Turned Into A Movie By George Clooney (And Bob Dylan)
Stop me if you heard this one:Geroge Clooney,Jon Grisham, andBob Dylanget together and say, “Let’s make a movie!” No, this isn’t the set-up of a joke. Instead, it’s news about a new movie. George Clooney is considering directingCalico Joe, a film adapted from the John Grisham novel of the same name. And Bob Dylan’s Grey Water Park Productions is set to produce. While Grisham is primarily known for his legal thrillers,Calico Joeis about a baseball player in the 1970s who ends up in a coma for three decades after being struck by a pitch.
Varietyis reporting theCalico Joemovie news, stating that George Clooney and producing/writing partnerGrant Heslovare developing the project with Clooney possibly directing as well. And, perhaps most surprising of all, Bob Dylan is also involved in the project, via his Grey Water Park Productions. Here’s the synopsis of Grisham’s book:
The book is partially inspired by 1920s baseball player Ray Chapman, who is the only Major League Baseball player to die from an injury received during a game. Chapman was struck in the head by a pitch and died 12 hours later. At the time, ballgames would usually only stick with one ball, no matter how damaged or dirty it got. This often made the ball hard to see. After Chapman’s death lead Major League Baseball established a rule to replace a ball during a game whenever it got dirty.
“John has written a beautiful story and the chance to collaborate with Bob to bring it to the screen is just fantastic,” said Clooney and Heslov. Dylan added: “George and Grant see in this book what I see in it – a powerful story that will resonate with young and old alike. People in all walks of life will be able to relate to it.”
