Ellroy Confidential

		*Fincher pinches 'Dahlia' (Variety)*

		“Seven” helmer David Fincher has made a deal to develop the James Ellroy novel “The Black Dahlia” as a directing vehicle, possibly to follow his next film, the Fox 2000 adaptation of “The Fight Club.” Though Ellroy has become a suddenly hot author after the Curtis Hanson-directed adaptation of his novel “L.A. Confidential,” Fincher has had a long dalliance with “Dahlia,” a fictionalization of the never-solved murder of Elizabeth Short. Ellroy turned it into a tale of obsession between two tough L.A. cops in 1949 who both fall for the dead woman. A tangled trail of clues leads to an eventual solving of the murder, but not before the lives of both men are destroyed. The book was optioned several years ago by producer Rudy Cohen. His April Prods. is partnering with Moshe Diamant’s Signature Entertainment, which will sell foreign rights. Signature has a first-look deal at Columbia Pictures, so that studio will get first shot at domestic rights. “We’re so excited about having David, because he’ll bring out the true flavor of James Ellroy,” Cohen said. Fincher is poised to next direct “Fight Club,” with Fox 2000 making pay-or-play offers after Brad Pitt approved the Jim Uhls script. Pitt’s expected to star with Edward Norton, with Courtney Love high on a list to play the female lead when the film begins shooting in June. Fincher’s repped by CAA and attorney Thomas B. McGuire Jr., with Cohen repped by attorneys Jake Bloom and David Feldman and Alan Grodin.