Columbia Pictures has scrapped Steven Soderbergh’s “Moneyball,” just 96 hours before production was scheduled to begin, reports Variety.

Based on the Michael Lewis book about Billy Beane, the former ballplayer who then became the Oakland A’s GM, “Moneyball,” starring Brad Pitt, was set to start shooting Monday in Phoenix.  But on Friday, Columbia Pictures’ Amy Pascal placed the project in “limited turnaround,” which allows the  filmmaker the opportunity to set it up at another studio.  Warner Bros. and Paramount are possible candidates.

Pascal’s decision came after she read Steven Zaillian’s shooting script last week and found that too many significant changes had been made to the earlier drafts making her uncomfortable.

If a new studio or other financial backing fails to emerge by today, Columbia will re-examine their options, including replacing Soderbergh, delaying production, or scrapping the project completely.

Pascal’s decision is bizarre considering Soderbergh’s many recent critical and commercial successes, Brad Pitt’s firm attachment, and considering that the news came after three months of cast and crew prep, with camera tests finished, and with the entire cast and budget in place.