Back in June of 2010 we learned that Geddy Lee had optioned the film and TV rights to Dave Bidini's 2005 book Baseballissimo. Yesterday Variety reported that development on the film is moving forward with Jay Baruchel and Jesse Chabot as co-writers:

... [the] Book was optioned last year by Rush frontman and baseball fanatic Geddy Lee, who hooked up with Toronto producer and A71 Productions prexy David Miller (2007 Toronto pic "Amal") and brought the project to Montreal-based Baruchel and Chabot last December.

Miller secured some Canuck development cash, and this summer took the writing duo, Lee and Bidini (both serving as exec producers) to Nettuno, and also began the scout for Euro co-pro partners.

"Bidini felt it was really important for Jay and Jesse to experience the town and meet the manager of the local baseball team," said Miller, whose shingle just wrapped Nova Scotia helmer Jason Buxton's feature bow "Bye Bye Blackbird," exec produced by Thom Fitzgerald ("The Hanging Garden").

Bidini is a Canadian musician, author and founding member of the Rheostatics who is also good friends with Geddy. The book details Bidini's story of his travels to the small town of Nettuno, the baseball capital of Italy since 1944. Thanks to Power Windows for the heads up.

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