A feature film adaptation of author Laura Hillenbrand’s non-fiction bestseller Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption has been a coveted property essentially since the book hit shelves, and now it looks like the pic may finally be moving forward.  Universal Pictures acquired the book rights back in January of 2011 for Francis Lawrence to direct and Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) set to write the script.  The studio subsequently brought on Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) to take over scripting duties the following March, but movement has been quiet ever since.

The book tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian and WWII bombardier whose plane crashed at sea in 1943.  Zamperini and two crewmates floated adrift for 47 days and 2000 miles, eventually finding themselves caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a POW camp where Zamperini was targeted by a sadistic overseer.  The project has now gained some strong momentum, as Angelina Jolie is being targeted to take the helm.  Hit the jump for more.

We’re continuing on with our weeklong preview of the upcoming 85th Academy Awards, and after running down both acting categories it’s time to take look at some of the other races.  Today we’ll be looking at the Best Animated Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay categories in depth, and I’ll also make some way-too-early quick picks in the technical categories.  The fun begins after the jump.

Tom Hooper, who just won the Academy Award for Best Director for The King’s Speech, is closing in on his next film. As one would imagine, the director has been carefully weighing the numerous pictures he’s been offered (including Iron Man 3) as his follow up to the Best Picture winner. Last month, it was reported that Hooper was considering tackling a big-budget musical adaptation of Les Miserables. Well, it looks like the Victor Hugo classic may in fact be his next film.

Deadline reports that Hooper is very close to choosing Les Mis as his next directorial effort. The film will be an adaptation of the stage musical, rather than a straight adaptation of Hugo’s novel. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the screenplay and Cameron Mackintosh, who produced the stage musical, will be producing the film as well. Apparently Hooper also flirted with an adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s Tulip Fever and a re-telling of Macbeth, but Les Miserables won out in the end. Nothing has been signed yet, but the report states that Hooper is currently in active negotiations for the flick.