There's been a great deal of idle talk (much reported wearily in these pages) about projects that might interest Steven Spielberg after he polishes off Tintin.

The news, unveiled in Variety magazine, that he is to direct a film adaptation of the hit play

War Horse

does, however, sound fairly plausible. Adapted by Nick Stafford from Michael Morpurgo’s book, the show, a production of the British National Theatre, details the sad adventures of a horse in the first World War. It sounds ideal for Spielberg.