Spielberg considering Matt Helm

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Steven Spielberg's next film could be a spy/action film based on the 'Matt Helm' series of books.

The bearded director is said to be seriously considering the project, especially after a re-write by Paul Attanasio that upped the action ante and moved the tone closer to that of the Bourne films.

Studio Paramount sees the film as a potential franchise starter.

A spanner in the works however could be the complex set of negotiations that would have to take place between DreamWorks and Paramount. The trade paper speculates that Paramount may be reluctant to give Spielberg his usual generous cut of the film's box office takings.

The character, created by Donald Hamilton in 1960, is a government agent whose mission is to take out enemy agents. Helm featured in 27 novels which were based in the cold-war era, although Attanasio's script relocates the action to the present day.

Spielberg's last movie was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.