Fincher was announced in 2006 to direct the adaptation of the [[Brian Michael Bendis]] and [[Marc Andreyko]] [[Torso (Image Comics)|graphic of the same name]] about [[Eliot Ness]] and his investigation of the [[Cleveland Torso Murderer]].<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/david-fincher-finds-torso-untouchable David Fincher Finds Torso Untouchable]</ref> In January 2008, Fincher indicated that it was not going to be a serial-killer film; "It's about the deconstruction of the myth of Eliot Ness. It has way more to do with ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' than it has to do with ''[[Seven (1995 film)|Seven]]''." [[Ehren Kruger]] wrote the script.<ref name=mtv/> In December 2008, Fincher said that it would not be a very faithful adaptation of the comic.<ref>{{cite web|last=Seijas|first=Casey|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813175032/http://www.mtv.com/news/2593315/david-fincher-on-his-torso-adaptation-ness-its-a-pretty-complete-reimagining/|title=DAVID FINCHER ON HIS 'TORSO' ADAPTATION, 'NESS': 'IT'S A PRETTY COMPLETE REIMAGINING'|website=[[MTV NEWSNews]]|date=December 18, 2008|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813175032/http://www.mtv.com/news/2593315/david-fincher-on-his-torso-adaptation-ness-its-a-pretty-complete-reimagining/|archive-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> A cast of [[Matt Damon]], [[Rachel McAdams]], [[Casey Affleck]] and [[Gary Oldman]] was rumored to be attached prior to [[Paramount Pictures]] allowing the rights to the comic lapse in January 2009.<ref>[https://theplaylist.net/paramount-lets-rights-to-david-finchers-20090123/ Paramount Lets Rights To David Fincher’s ‘Torso’ Lapse]</ref><ref>[https://theplaylist.net/torso-creator-says-movie-isnt-dead-ye-20091022/ ‘Torso’ Creator Says Movie “Isn’t Dead Yet,” While Fincher Turns Towards TV]</ref>
