Greg Mottola to direct Important Artifacts

Hard to believe it was over a year ago when we first reported Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman had signed to star in Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris. THR now says Adventureland’s Greg Mottola will write the screenplay (and perhaps direct?)

Since the original novel is mostly composed of photographs and simulated Sotheby’s catalogue descriptions of the titular artifacts, the screenplay will need to invent more original material than most adaptations. The transformation will be tricky — and an opportunity for a clever writer to pull off a tour de force.