Columbia is currently in negotiations to pick up the film rights to “Eat, Pray, Love,” the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, from Paramount Pictures. The project has gone into turnaround at Paramount, and Columbia’s taking pains to make sure the process of acquiring the rights from Paramount don’t end in the same shenanigans as what went down between WB and Fox over Watchmen. They’re seeking to keep the attached talent involved, too, which would find Julie Roberts starring, Nip/Tuck’s Ryan Murphy writing and directing, and Brad Pitt and Dede Gardener producing under their Plan B banner.

This certainly could turn into a profitable little picture, but I wonder if that’ll mean the male response to the memoir, “Drink, Play Fuck,” will also see a movie screen?

Tags: Columbia Pictures, Eat Pray Love, Julie Roberts, Ryan Murphy