Edward Berger to Direct ‘Stradivarius’ for Netflix — 18th Century Italian Tale Tackling Rival Violin Makers

Edward Berger has started production on his next film, “The Riders,” starring Brad Pitt, set up over at A24, and he’s already lined up what might be his next project after that one.

Sources confirm that Berger and screenwriter Itamar Moses, a Tony Award–winning playwright whose television credits include “The Affair” and “Boardwalk Empire,” have sold “Stradivarius” to Netflix.

Berger is attached to direct “Stradivarius,” which is set in 18th-century Northern Italy and centers on the world’s two greatest violin makers battling to build the perfect instrument.

Berger has a handful of projects lined up, many of which may never happen, including one tackling Evan Gershkovich—the first American journalist to be arrested in Russia since the Cold War—for Amazon/MGM. That project is in limbo after Gershkovich pushed back, saying Berger and Amazon/MGM were never given permission to tell his life story.

Another project that may never get made: Berger is still attached to direct the next “Jason Bourne” movie. There’s also an untitled time-travel drama starring Austin Butler, which, given Butler’s busy schedule, is still a long way from happening.

After his Netflix 2022 WWI epic “All Quiet on the Western Front,” which won four Oscars, the German-born Berger became one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. He followed that with the acclaimed papal drama “Conclave,” which earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but struck out last year with his flawed gambling drama “Ballad of a Small Player.”