Shankman helming Grisham's 'Pizza'

Hairspray director Adam Shankman will helm an adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller Playing For Pizza.

The book focuses on an aging NFL star who finds himself playing for a semi-professional team in Italy after failing to take his US side to the Super Bowl.

Speaking to Variety about the project, Shankman said: "We want to make this grittier than the book, a cross between North Dallas Forty and Jerry Maguire, about a character who fails in the public eye, goes into survival mode as a result and then learns through a series of events that he doesn't have to be Tony Romo to be a success as a man."

J. Mills Goodloe will adapt the novel, with Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer and David Thwaites producing. Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot will serve as executive producers.