Hey, did you know that the long-rumored movie based on Michael Lewis'
Moneyball is actually in post-production, slated for release later this year? It's gone through several script iterations and directors, but they really did film it. You've probably heard that Brad Pitt is playing Oakland Athletics' GM Billy Beane, and maybe you heard that Jonah Hill (of
Superbad and
Funny People) is playing a character based on Beane's former assistant Paul DePodesta. But there are some other familiar names appearing in the flick.
Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt plays ex-A's first baseman Scott Hatteberg, and Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman takes on the role of manager Art Howe. Miguel Tejada is also being featured in the movie, and he'll be played by a man with over a decade of major league experience at shortstop...
Royce Clayton.
Yeah, not exactly an uncanny resemblance, but chalk it up to creative license. Clayton actually auditioned to get the part, and even developed a Latino accent. Director Bennett Miller actually requested in the middle of filming that the retired player drop the accent in order to perform more naturally. At any rate, he should at least look pretty natural in any on-field scenes, which is more than you could say about a lot of actors in baseball movies. See: Robbins, Tim.
