'Rudy': The Movie

A film company has purchased the rights to a biography of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and is expected to make Giuliani's story into a television movie.

The company, Five Mile River Films, bought the screen rights to "Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City," by Andrew Kirtzman, a political correspondent for local TV station New York 1. The purchase price wasn't disclosed.

"We just closed the deal; we are putting it together," said Lorenzo Minoli, the film company's co-producer.

"He's very famous in Europe," Minoli said from Italy, where he is filming "Julius Caesar" for TNT.

Co-producer Russell Kagan said the film, expected to air later this year, would be released around the world within a month or two of the U.S. release.

Actors mentioned for the role of Giuliani include Robert Duvall, Daniel Travanti and James Woods. Kagan said no actor had been chosen.

Kirtzman was with Giuliani on the morning of Sept. 11 as the then-mayor searched for a location for an emergency command center. He updated the book, published in 2000, with a final chapter about the terrorist attacks.

Giuliani and Kirtzman did not immediately return calls Wednesday.

Five Mile River previously has produced television movies about Biblical figures, including "Abraham," "Moses," "David," and "Jesus."

By Ula Ilnytzky
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