Whilst he hasn't yet decided what his next directorial endeavour will be, Steven Spielberg has reportedly added one more project to his developmental slate, religious drama The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara.

Steven SpielbergCould The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara be Spielberg's next project?

Written by Tony Kushner, who has penned two previous Spielberg projects, 2005’s Munich and 2012’s Lincoln. Variety is reporting that Spielberg plans to produce and may also direct the film, which would be a co-production between DreamWorks and the Weinstein Co.

Based on David Kertzer’s nonfiction work, The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara is the true story of an Italian Jew who became the center of an international controversy in 1858 when he was removed from his parents at the age of 7 by authorities of the Papal States and raised as a Catholic. He later went on to become a priest in the Augustinian order.

Steven Spielberg and Tony KushnerSpielberg and writer Tony Kushner

Spielberg hasn’t been behind the camera since 2012’s Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Lincoln was nominated for 12 Academy Awards including best picture, with Day-Lewis taking home best actor. As for what Spielberg's long awaited follow up will be, he is thought to be deciding between three projects for his next directing gig, The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, Robopocalypse and Montezuma.

Robopocalypse is still thought to be the forerunner and Thor star Chris Hemsworth is said to have already signed on. A rewrite of the script has just been complete after the project was temporarily put on hold last year. Spielberg’s other choice, Montezuma, is a historical drama which is currently being written by Steve Zallian.

Steven SpielbergHow will Spielberg follow Lincoln?

Variety also reports that Robopocalypse might be the forerunner because it is a co-production between DreamWorks and Fox and Spielberg’s DreamWorks partner Stacey Snider is planing to leave the company when her contract expires in late November. Snider's next job is thought to be with Fox.

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