 CLINT Eastwood (qv) tried to option "Flags of Our Fathers" after  the book by James Bradley (IX) (qv) and Ron Powers (qv) was  published in May 2000. However, Steven Spielberg (I) (qv) had  already bought the rights that summer, and in early 2001, had  assigned its adaptation to the screenwriter  William Broyles Jr.  (qv). Spielberg wasnt satisfied with the  resulting screenplay and it laid dormant until he met with Eastwood  at the Governors Ball after the 2004 Oscar. After that, Eastwood  took charge as the director with Spielberg as the producer.