Columbia Pictures has picked up the science fiction script Battle: Los Angeles for Neal Moritz to produce, The Hollywood Reporter says.

The story focuses on a marine battling aliens on the streets of Los Angeles.

Moritz (I Am Legend, Prison Break) will produce via his Original Films production company. He was enthusiastic about the film's concept, which is similar to the recent monster movie Cloverfield.

"I love the idea, and I love the script. I like it all," he said. "We are going to be in production within six months. What's attractive to me is that it's a huge event movie that can be done at a modest scale."

Bertolini has previously written The General's Daughter.