Uncertainty surrounded thefuture of James Ellroy adaptation The Night Watchman last night after it emerged that Oliver Stone hasdropped out of the Keanu Reeves-starrer due to problems with the screenplay.

Stone came on board todirect the story of a disgraced policeman who launches a crusade againstcorrupt officers after Spike Lee dropped out to direct Inside Man for Universal.

However now Stone's out aswell. In a statement he said: "Contrary to recent reports in the media I havenever announced or intend to make films called Constantine, The NightWatchman or the life story ofMargaret Thatcher."

Avi Lerner's MillenniumFilms is understood to be backing the project, however Lerner didn't returncalls.

The project was initiallyset up with New Regency and made its way to Millennium after a period when itwas set up at Bob Yari Productions. Yari confirmed that he remained "locked in"as executive producer.

"Right now there is no project," Yari said. "Olive Stone isout and my latest information is that if Oliver Stone is out, then Keanu isout."