Torso is a film in production by Paramount Pictures. It is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Marc Andreyko.

Matt Damon has reportedly been cast as the central character (Eliot Ness) while Casey Affleck co-stars. David Fincher is directing from a script by Ehren Krueger. Don Murphy and Bill Mechanic are producing.

Plot

The story centers on Cleveland's Torso/Kingsbury Run slayings (1934 - 1938) during which at least 13 people were slaughtered, which took place while Ness was the city's Safety Director. The killer received the nickname Torso because s/he left only the torsos of his victims. Without dental records or fingerprint analysis, the victims were difficult to identify in an age before DNA testing. To this day, the killings remain unsolved.

Production

In addition to the supposed casting of a heavyweight like Damon, major Cleveland, Ohio newspaper The Plain Dealer is also reporting Paramount is currently negotiating with city officials to bring the production to Cleveland, only if, however, the studio can secure the all-important tax incentives to help put a dent in the film's budget.

Producer Bill Mechanic was quoted as saying the following:

"It all comes down to what's the best place to get our movie shot for the least money," Mechanic said. "We want to shoot the entire movie, the interior and exterior shots, in Cleveland because that's where the action takes place and so we wouldn't have to relocate the crew. But without incentives, it doesn't look like we can afford it."

Mechanic went on to say if the studio can't secure the said incentives the production will most likely have to shoot interiors in Detroit, Michigan, with only streetscapes in Cleveland used for exteriors; Michigan passed legislation in March, 2008 (Bill 5841) giving filmmakers a nation-leading 40 percent rebate on their costs to do business in the state and 42 percent if the movie is shot in so-called distressed cities such as Detroit.

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