MEIRELLES IN 3 YEAR DEAL WITH FOCUS (MCN)
By Tom Tapp
Movie City News impresario David Poland is reporting today that director Fenando Meirelles has signed a three year production deal with Universal and Focus. Pact covers five pictures and aims "to develop new films from young Brazilian directors" for distribution both in the U.S. and at home.
Pics will lense in both English and Portuguese with the first set to start in January '07.
No word yet on whether Meirelles will direct any of the pics himself, though a deal does make sense after Meirelles' good experience with "The Constant Gardener" at Focus last year. Pic did $81 million worldwide and saw lead Rachel Weisz win the best actress Oscar.
Deal also makes sense for Universal, given the growth opportunities in the international market and the fact that the studio must rebuild its international distribution apparatus after the dissolution of its UIP partnership with Paramount. Strong foreign product should help on both counts.
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