Spielberg to make film on Munich Oly tragedy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steven Spielberg plans to begin work on a movie about the 1972 Munich Olympics, in which Palestinian terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches after a televised hostage standoff.

The "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" Oscar winner has already cast Ben Kingsley, but no other actors have been announced, Spielberg's spokesman, Marvin Levy, told the Associated Press on Thursday.

Spielberg will work from a script by Eric Roth, who also penned "Forrest Gump" and "The Insider."

The film, which does not yet have a title, is set to start filming in June, Levy said.

The real-life hostage standoff ended after 21 hours in an ill-conceived rescue attempt at an airport — 11 Israeli athletes and coaches, five terrorists and one West German police officer died. Israeli commandos later hunted down and killed most of those involved in planning and carrying out the attack.

A documentary about the attack, "One Day in September," won an Academy Award in 2000.