Tommy Lee Jones to adapt Hemingway novel?

In an interview with The Telegraph over here in the U.K, when asked about his future projects Jones mentioned that he wants to adapt the Ernest Hemingway novel "Islands in the Stream", a book that was published in 1970 some years after the author's death as a way to make up for some of his last books which received negative reviews. The book which was cobbled together from rough but seemingly completed notes found at Hemingway's house follows a painter through three different stages of his life. His time of tranquility in the Bahamas, his time of cynicism during WW-II when he hears of his son's death in battle and then a final act which see's him travel out to confront a German boat full of Nazi soldiers. "Islands in the Stream" has already been adapted into a film in 1977 from the talented Franklin J. Schaffner (PLANET OF THE APES) and starring the great George C. Scott in what Jones calls "a bad movie".

The actor to be seen in the U.K. in two films in the coming weeks (IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) wouldn't give out more details but I don't think he's even begun work on a script yet so this one might be a while before it gets some real movement. Jones' directorial debut three years ago with THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA was a pretty decent first movie and I think he could have a nice career as a character driven director... as it of course gives him the chance of leading movies which he sometimes might now get overlooked for. source - cinematical