When Rudin was adapting "Wonder Boys" for the screen, the author declined an offer to write the screenplay, saying he was too busy writing "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay". Directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Michael Douglas, "Wonder Boys" was released in 2000 to critical acclaim and financial failure. Having bought the film rights to "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay", Rudin then asked Chabon to work on that film's screenplay. Although Chabon spent 16 months in 2001 and 2002 working on the novel's film adaptation, the project has been mired in pre-production for years.