Greg Mottola, director of Superbad and Adventureland, is to helm a new feature from Paramount Pictures. Important Artifacts is based on a book by Leanne Shapton and will star Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman in lead roles.

The original novel, which bares the much longer title of Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection Of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewellery, utilises photographs and is written as an auction catalogue which examines the details of a couples’ relationship through their shared belongings, now up for bidding once they’ve broken up.

As if the long-winded titled wasn’t quirky enough, the book’s unique presentation of a tried and tested formula has proven a hit with literary critics, and with Mottola’s direction hopefully that success can translate onto the big screen as well.