Just days before it was to go into production, Sony/Columbia Pictures has halted work on Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Steven Soderbergh. According to reports Columbia head Amy Pascal was miffed by a reading of the Soderbergh's revised script. Reporting on the studio's decision, Daily Variety commented today (Monday): "Even in the climate of heightened studio caution, the turnaround news on Moneyball is surprising given that the project had reached the equivalent of third base."