Film trailer: Brad Pitt starring in 'Moneyball'

(AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE)

The first teaser trailer for Moneyball starring Brad Pitt was released exclusively to Entertainment Tonight, the American celebrity news show, and posted online on June 15.

Based on a true story from the Michael Lewis book, the footage shows Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, an underdog team in 2002.

The footage shows a story of bucking the system. In an attempt to put his baseball club on the map but on a budget, the manager hires a college grad, played by Jonah Hill ( Get Him to the Greek), who uses statistics to pick players who will win games.

Despite the odds and resistance from traditionalists, the new unproven method of analysis worked and created a revolution in the profession game. The success made the Oakland A's a competitive major league team.

Bennett Miller ( Capote) directed the adaptation by Aaron Sorkin ( The Social Network) and Steven Zaillian ( Schindler's List). Originally Steven Soderbergh ( Ocean's Eleven) was set to direct but creative differences led the studio to drop the film until Brad Pitt resurrected the project.

The project also costars Robin Wright ( State of Play) and Philip Seymour Hoffman ( The Invention of Lying) as the infielder Art Howe.

Moneyball opens September 23 in North America and follows in the UK, Europe and Turkey in November, with other territories to follow.

Trailer: http://youtu.be/inEVDYptNT8?t=48s

RC