DISH Fincher mulls 'Night' cap (Variety)
		While David Fincher awaits a final commitment from Brad Pitt that will get "The Fight Club" into the ring early next year, the director has also begun negotiations to direct "The Night Watchman," an original script by "L.A. Confidential" author James Ellroy for New Regency and producer Bruce Berman. Warner Bros. will distribute. Fincher has long planned to team his "Seven" star Pitt with Edward Norton in "The Fight Club," which producer Art Linson is putting together at Fox 2000. "The Night Watchman" would most likely follow, unless the other film unexpectedly was delayed. Pitt, who plans to make "The Fight Club" his next after "Meet Joe Black," is waiting to see a final draft before going pay or play. While that's the most likely scenario, Fincher, a big fan of Ellroy's novels, is in the process of deal discussions that would allow him to work with Ellroy on developing "The Night Watchman" with an eye toward his next available slot. "The Night Watchman" is a murder mystery set in post-O.J. Simpson L.A. It has elements of "Unforgiven" and "The Verdict," with strong roles for the cop investigating a murder and the villain. Fincher was the first director approached, and he sparked to the material. Though both studio and the director's reps cautioned that no deal is in place, neither denies they are negotiating. It is the second script by the novelist, who wrote "The Plague Season" for Universal and "The Jackal" producers Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel. Interestingly, WB initially passed on "The Night Watchman" when Ellroy first pitched it, but Regency's Arnon Milchan put up his own money to pay the six-figure script fee and keep it in the WB fold. A Fincher commitment would likely make it producer Berman's first go picture since starting his Plan B shingle when he exited his post as Warner Bros. president of production. Fincher's repped by CAA's Joe Rosenberg and Richard Lovett.

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