Steven Spielberg Won’t Direct Bradley Cooper Navy SEAL Movie ‘American Sniper’

Steven Spielberg has dropped out of directing “American Sniper,” the adaptation of a memoir by Navy SEAL Chris Kyle that is set to star Bradley Cooper.

Deadline reports that both Spielberg and his production company, DreamWorks, have bowed out of the movie, which was also to be co-produced by Cooper. An individual familiar with the production told TheWrap that “Spielberg had a vision in his head for the movie that didn’t align with the current budget,” leading him to walk away from the film.

This sudden shift comes after Spielberg’s involvement was heavily touted back in May. Cooper had been shopping “Sniper” for some time, at one point hoping to reunite with his “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell, before Spielberg came on board.

No word yet on how this shake-up will affect the production, which was set to be Spielberg’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning “Lincoln,” though Cooper is still on board to play Kyle.

[via Deadline, TheWrap]