AceShowbiz -

It might not take long for Warner Bros. to find the man who serves behind the lens for "American Sniper" following Steven Spielberg's exit earlier this month. Twitch claims that the studio has Oscar winner actor/director Clint Eastwood in sight, writing that the "Million Dollar Baby" helmer "has gotten the nod to take over the directing assignment."

Spielberg bowed out of the production after having been attached since May. According to Deadline which first reported his inclusion and his departure, the "Saving Private Ryan" director could not "square his vision of this movie with the budget" planned by Warner Bros. At the same time, co-producer DreamWorks followed in his footsteps.

Whoever is eventually appointed to direct the adaptation of the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle seemingly won't affect leading man Bradley Cooper at all. As he once said in an interview on NPR's "Fresh Air", the project really matters to him.

"His [Kyle] story really needs to be told, and it's also relevant on two fronts: gun control and the need to address the many soldiers who are coming back with PTSD," said the "Silver Linings Playbook" actor, who is also committed to produce the movie.

"American Sniper" chronicles how Chris Kyle came to record the highest number of sniper kills for an American. Last February, Kyle died at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas after being shot dead by fellow veteran Eddie Ray Routh.