TOLDJA.com this morning is reporting that Steven Spielberg, fresh off an Oscar nom for his epic tale of a horse that had moxie, is close to signing a deal to direct a “a Braveheartish version of the Moses story” called Gods and Kings for Warner Bros.

“Him coming down the river, being adopted, leaving his home, forming an army, and getting the Ten Commandments,” an insider tells us. And despite the awesome screen possibilities of the parting of the Red Sea, the movie isn’t being contemplated in 3D. Warner Bros wants Spielberg to direct it with the gritty reality of Saving Private Ryan, which is considered a masterpiece redefining battle movies. ”There have been glossy versions of the Moses story but this would be a real warrior story,” an insider tells us. Insiders tell us the dialogue should consummate by the end of the month. Warner Bros wants to start production sometime in March or April of 2013.

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(“Commandment 1: There is one true energy drink, and it’s name is ‘Xyience.’  Commandment 2: No fat chicks.  Commandment 3…”_)

My favorite studio 20th Century Fox has announced plans to do a film about the life of Moses, in the style of 300.  Because, as it says in Leviticus 2012, “Man shalt not lie with another man; it is abomination.  Man shalt swordfight in underwear with other sweaty, shirtless man; lo, for it is awesome.  Spake the lord: OOH WHA-AA AA-AAH!”

20th Century Fox has made a preemptive acquisition of a pitch to tell the story of Moses in “300″ style. The tale will start with his near death as an infant to his adoption into the Egyptian royal family, his defiance of the Pharoah and deliverance of the Hebrews from enslavement. The Moses story will be told using the same green screen strategy as “300,” so it will feel more like that pic or “Braveheart” than “The Ten Commandments,” the 1956 Cecil B. DeMille film.

The script will be written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage, who make this their followup to a high-level deal they made to reinvent Herman Melville”s “Moby Dick,” with a graphic novel feel, for Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov.  [Variety]

Now, if you had any doubt about Hollywood’s descent into unintentional self-parody, keep in mind that when I first reported their graphic-novelized version of Moby Dick back in September 2008, I wrote:

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