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Wicker Man

Lord of War
Sonny
Cage's ‘Sonny’ Unspools At Fest
‘Sonny’ Day For Goldwyn
Mann Mans ‘Life’ Role
Saturn Sets Into Orbits With Spirited Film Slate
Golightly Prod’n Prexy
Parker Storms ‘Gale’
Cage Awakening To Lead ‘Back Up’ For Castle Rock
Cage, LaBute On ‘Wicker’ Update
Blethyn, Suvari in ‘Pony’ Stable For Helmer Cage
Franco Has ‘Sonny’ Role For Cage
Cage Does ‘Volunteer’ Work
Winslet Facing ‘Life’ with Uni, Helmer Parker
Linney Lured By Uni’s Story Of ‘David Gale’

ARCHIVED NEWS

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The Wicker Man

Official Wicker Man Site
Wicker Man Trailer at Apple.com
The Wicker Man @ Variety.com

Sonny

A Gold Circle presentation of a Saturn Films production. (International sales: Vortex Pictures, Beverly Hills) Produced by Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly, Paul Brooks. Executive producer, Norm Waitt. Co-executive producer, Glenn S. Gainor. Directed by Nicolas Cage. Screenplay, John Carlen.

Sonny - James Franco
Jewel - Brenda Blethyn
Carol - Mena Suvari
Henry - Harry Dean Stanton

By LISA NESSELSON

Nicolas Cage makes an unusual but pleasantly haunting debut behind the camera with "Sonny," the tale of a young man groomed as a gigolo by his Southern momma from age 12. Distinguished by affecting performances, commercial prospects seem modest but honorable in light of the semi-sordid storyline. However, anyone who gives "Sonny" a spin is unlikely to quickly forget it.

Pic made trade headlines prior to its Deauville world preem when Robert Dellinger filed suit against Cage and assorted production companies for failing to give him screen credit as co-writer. Dellinger claimed he and credited scripter John Carlen co-wrote a handful of screenplays when both were incarcerated in the '70s, and "Sonny" borrows much from those texts.

Per production notes, Cage considered playing the lead himself in the mid-'80s and, later, never having forgotten the unusual material, dug up the script for his directing bow.

Besides "Midnight Cowboy" and "American Gigolo," there aren't many mainstream movies centered on straight male prostitutes. "Sonny" is a worthy, if indie-style, addition to the list, with James Franco ("James Dean") making a lead as special as Jon Voight or Richard Gere in the aforementioned films.

Pic is set in New Orleans over the course of a few weeks in 1981. Fresh out of the Army, Sonny (Franco), who never knew his father and whose mother, Jewel (Brenda Blethyn), is a whore past her prime, returns to the house on Bourbon Street where

Jewel lives with her cordial loser of a companion, Henry (Harry Dean Stanton).
Jewel made no provision for her retirement and Henry's main source of income is petty theft. Jewel's only cash is brought in by her lone "employee," Carol (Mena Suvari), a fresh-faced call-girl she rescued from a hospital and put to work.

So Jewel is delighted Sonny is back, handsome as ever at age 26. But Sonny has no intention of returning to the gigolo biz, especially as an army buddy (Scott Caan) has promised him a job at a bookstore in Texas.

While encouraging Sonny to strive for the "square" life, Henry warns him that normal existence is also fraught with pitfalls, especially for someone whose sexual talents are considerable but whose social skills were channeled into a commercially expedient direction.

Indeed, the job promised by Sonny's army pal doesn't pan out, and a date with what Sonny believes to be a typical girl ends in (an impressively staged) crisis.

Sonny returns to New Orleans, and he and Carol begin working as a duo servicing bored couples. However, the couple Carol most yearns to form is a real one.

Movie is full of meaty scenes played to the hilt, the atmosphere a cousin to Tennessee Williams sans the florid dialogue. Set at the tail-end of an AIDS-free universe -- with just a passing reference to a "new virus" in a men's brothel -- pic makes sex a forthright commodity, almost in the manner of a public service.

As Sonny's mom, Blethyn is a whirlwind of broad emotion, while Franco makes the title character a paragon of boyish understatement, his occasional outbursts all the more effective. Suvari, as Carol, convinces as a pretty young thing who deserves better but can't find a way to reach the feelings that were mostly bred out of Sonny by formative years devoted to the skilled lies of the hustler's trade.

Stanton is a perfect blend of inherent dignity and pathos. Meanwhile, Cage, almost unrecognizable, casts himself as Acid Yellow, a coke-addled queen complete with frilly yellow suit (which belonged to Liberace and Cage bought at an auction years ago) and walking stick.

A selection of middle-aged thesps are marvelous as women of stature with basic needs they pay Sonny to fill. These include Brenda Vacarro, who enjoyed the ministrations of Joe Buck in "Midnight Cowboy," here portraying an appreciative and pragmatic matron.

Cage's approach to the material is unfailingly adult and non-judgmental. Sex scenes are convincing but never crass, with some older breasts and Franco's handsome derriere on show.

Lensing makes good use of locations and imparts a refreshingly polished look to settings whose seediness others may have been tempted to underline. Scoring is mostly thoughtful, as is source music from Bach to disco.

Camera (color), Barry Markowitz; editor, Howard Smith; music, Clint Mansell; production designer, Monroe Kelly; costume designer, Shawn-Holly Cookson; sound (Dolby), Jeffrey Haupt; assistant director, Mark Anthony Little; associate producer, Debra L. Gainor; casting, Jeffrey and Elizabeth Passero. Reviewed at Deauville Festival of American Film (competing), France, Sept. 2, 2002. Running time: 110 MIN.


With: Brenda Vacarro, Scott Caan, Seymour Cassel, Nicolas Cage.

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Cage's ‘Sonny’ Unspools At Fest

AFI adds latenight screening

By Variety Staff

AFI Fest 2002 has added a midnight screening of Nicolas Cage's directorial debut, "Sonny," on Friday at ArcLight Hollywood.

"The AFI fest is noted for supporting first-time directors, and it is a particular pleasure to host Nicolas Cage's outstanding directorial debut," said festival director Christian Gaines.

A Saturn Films/Gold Circle Films production, "Sonny" is produced by Cage, Norm Golightly and Paul Brooks. Gold Circle Films and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the pic in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 27, expanding to other markets in January.

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‘Sonny’ Day For Goldwyn

$5 mil Cage–helmed pic gets Acad push

By Michael Fleming

Samuel Goldwyn Films has signed on to distribute the Gold Circle Films-financed "Sonny," and has set a Dec. 27 Oscar platform bow for the drama, which marks the directorial debut of Nicolas Cage Film, which stars James Franco, Mena Suvari, Brenda Blethyn and Harry Dean Stanton, will expand in January.

Produced by Cage and Saturn Films partner Norm Golightly along with Gold Circle's Paul Brooks, "Sonny" is the gritty story of a male gigolo (Franco) who struggles to free himself from his madame mother (Blethyn) to make a better life.

Pic, which premiered at the Deauville Film Festival, cost $5 million to make and was financed by Gold Circle, which itself has momentum from producing, with Playtone, hit indie pic "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and underwriting half its $5 million budget.

Gold Circle's Brooks made the deal with Goldwyn's Meyer Gottlieb. It is their second recent partnership, following the Andy Garcia starrer "The Man From Elysian Fields."

"We know that we are somewhat of an underdog, but we are so proud of this film and of the work the cast and everyone involved has put into the project," said Cage, who figures into another major holiday release with Oscar potential as star of the Spike Jonze-directed, Charlie Kaufman-scripted "Adaptation" at Columbia.

Date in print: Thurs., Oct. 17, 2002, Los Angeles

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Mann Mans ‘Life’ Role

Thesp joins Spacey, Winslet Linney in Parker pic

By MICHAEL FLEMING

NEW YORK -- Gabriel Mann will co-star with Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet and Laura Linney in "The Life of David Gale," the Alan Parker-directed drama for Universal and Intermedia.

Scripted by Charles Randolph, the Saturn/Dirty Hands co-production revolves around an opponent of capital punishment (Spacey) who winds up on death row after being convicted of murdering another death penalty activist. Mann will play an intern working with a reporter (Winslet) who is trying to stop the execution.

Mann, best known for "High Art" and "Things Behind the Sun," recently completed "Buffalo Soldiers" and "The Bourne Identity." He just wrapped the Steve Gaghan-directed "Abandon." Mann is repped by UTA and managers Michael McConnell and Rochelle Parker.

Date in print: Mon., Oct. 15, 2001,

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Saturn Sets Into Orbits With Spirited Film Slate

Co. bows with ‘Vampire’

By DAVID S. COHEN

Through his acting career, Nicolas Cage has covered a wide range of roles, but no matter how eclectic his choices have been, he knew there was something he wouldn't be able to do through acting.

"I always felt that I had an eye for talent, and as an actor I really couldn't access that, I was responsible for managing my own abilities," he says. "I was interested in finding ways to put talented people together."

For example, Cage had worked with both Willem Dafoe and John Malkovich, but they had never worked with each other. Cage wanted to see that happen.

"It's a little like inviting people to a party, finding who would be interesting together," he says.

The solution was Saturn Films, Cage's production company, which is on its feet as a legitimate production company four years after its founding, and ready to launch an ambitious and diverse slate.

"I saw Saturn Films as a safe haven for actors," says Cage. "It's an actor-driven company, where performers can find material that's a little bit unusual, that studios might be wary of. It's a laboratory for actors, really."

Saturn, which is six months into a two-year, first-look deal with Intermedia, does look for acting projects for Cage, of course.

"Having a company gives Nic to shepherd projects along instead of being reactive to what others in the marketplace are creating," explains Saturn's president, Norman Golightly. "It gives us a chance to start from square one and say 'Let's make this happen.'"

But Saturn wants to do more than feed Cage's acting career.

"I think this company is born out of Nic's love of film," says Golightly. "We're striving to find films that are a combination of good entertainment, thought-provoking and entertaining films. We see ourselves as a cutting-edge company, working with both established filmmakers and cutting-edge, new filmmakers.

"We pride ourselves on thinking out of the box," continues Golightly. "We choose our projects first and only decide later whether Nic will act in them."

Saturn's first film was "Shadow of the Vampire," which paired Dafoe and Malkovich onscreen.

"It was a perfect blend of horror and comedy and a perfect way to launch the company," says Golightly, and the film has made a splash, garnering Oscar noms for makeup and supporting actor (Dafoe).

Among the many projects in the works at Saturn are:

1. "The Life of David Gale" -- Alan Parker is set to direct Charles Randolph's thriller about a death penalty foe who is sent to death row for the murder of another activist. George Clooney will star.

2. "Tom Slick -- Monster Hunter" is loosely based on the life of eccentric 1940s oil magnate and inventor Tom Slick, who spent his spare time hunting the likes of the Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman. "It's Indiana Jones meets the Coen brothers," says Golightly.

3. "Press Your Luck" is described as a comedic Rocky in the world of gameshows. The script, by Howard Franklin, is based on the true story of a down-on-his luck Ohio man who discovered how to beat a TV gameshow.

4. "Chain," written by Gregory Small and Richard Blaney, is a revenge story about a man who comes back in a new persona to wreak revenge on a treacherous motorcycle gang. John Rice will direct the movie, set up at Lions Gate.

5. Jonathan Mostow will helm an untitled family drama, formerly known as "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," to be produced by Saturn in association with Eagle Cove Entertainment and Mostow-Lieberman. The film is set up at Warner Brothers.

6. "Iron Man," the life story of Olympic athlete and war hero Lou Zamperini, is in development at Universal and being written by Robert Schenkkan.

7. "Heartbreaker," written by Jeremy Miller and Dan Cohn, based on a story created by Cage, is romantic dramedy focusing on a man who hires himself out to break women's hearts and drive them back to their old flames.

8. "The Bitter End," a romantic comedy, will be written and directed by Slamdance winner Heidi Van Lier.

The offbeat slate and youthful energy at Saturn has made producing a pleasure for Cage.

"I've been allowed to surround myself with creative people even when I'm not acting. I get stimulated by exciting people who are passionate about their crafts, passionate about filmmaking, have ideas and are free thinkers," he says. "That kind of keeps me sharp as an actor as well. I'm able to stay passionate because I'm around passionate people."

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Golightly Prod’n Prexy

Exec to operate alongside CEO Cage

By CHARLES LYONS

Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films has elevated Norm Golightly to prexy of production.

Golightly had been veep of creative affairs and will operate alongside Cage, Saturn's CEO. Clarke Anderson, formerly the company's story editor, will become director of development.

Last year, Saturn Films struck a two-year, first-look deal to develop a wide range of projects. Saturn will make two pics per year with Intermedia, which will exec produce all pics and handle worldwide distribution.

"Norm is a tremendous asset to Saturn Films, and the contributions he has made to our company have been instrumental in our success and growth," Cage said.

"Shadow of the Vampire" was Saturn's first production, a pic that earned Oscar nominations for supporting actor Willem Dafoe and makeup artists Ann Buchanan and Amber Stiley. Film was Cage's first as producer; Golightly was associate producer.

Golightly joined Saturn in 1997 as director of development. He was later promoted to veep of creative affairs.

Next up for Saturn is "The Life of David Gale," penned by Charles Randolph, with Alan Parker helming and George Clooney attached to star. Production will not begin until after the strikes are over or averted.

Also in development: "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," which Jonathan Mostow is slated to direct for Warner Bros.; "Chain," written by Gregory Small and Richard Blaney, to be helmed by John Rice for Lions Gate Films; and "Iron Man -- The Lou Zamperini Story," penned by Robert Schenkkan for Universal.

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Parker Storms ‘Gale’

‘Angela’s’ helmer eyeing WB drama

By MICHAEL FLEMING, DANA HARRIS

Alan Parker is near a commitment to make his next directing effort "The Life of David Gale," an original drama scripted by Charles Randolph that is set up at Intermedia Films.

Parker, who last directed "Angela's Ashes" and "Evita," has long had his eye on the film, which recently got put into turnaround by Warner Bros.

The drama surrounds a professor who is an advocate of banning capital punishment falsely accused of murdering a fellow activist and put on death row.

It's an original by scripter Randolph, who has been a professor of philosophy and film theory in Vienna. The film will be produced by Parker's Dirty Hands Prods. and Nicolas Cage's Saturn Pictures.

Intermedia is in for the foreign rights, and a domestic distributor hasn't yet been secured. Parker hopes to begin production by March. Parker is repped by CAA.

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Cage Awakening To Lead ‘Back Up’ For Castle Rock

September 26, 2002

By JOSH SPECTOR

Taking on a role reminiscent of his work in "Face/Off," Nicolas Cage is attached to star in "Back Up," a Tom Vaughan-penned spec that has been acquired by Castle Rock Pictures.

A science fiction thriller described as "Memento" meets "Face/Off," the project will star Cage as a cop who is brought back to life to investigate his own murder. It is being produced by the Jacobson Co.'s Tom Jacobson and Jim Wedaa in conjunction with Saturn Films' Cage and Norm Golightly. The project was brought into Castle Rock by Liz Glotzer and Martin Schaffer.

Based on a story by Vaughan and Wedaa, "Back Up" is set in the near future, when technology allows for the resuscitation of humans and the "backing up" of their memories onto a computer. Cage plays a cop who gets "backed-up" and wakes up 90 days later with a gap in his memory. Learning that he was murdered and his wife has left him, Cage's character is intent on hunting down his murderer and figuring out what he did during the missing days that ruined his life.

" 'Back Up' explores a really complex character in the middle of what is essentially a high-concept science fiction thriller, and it is a great role for Nic Cage," Wedaa said.
Golightly echoed Wedaa's sentiments, stressing the unique concept. " 'Back Up' is an incredibly unique piece of material — both thought-provoking and entertaining from beginning to end," he said.

Cage and Saturn are repped by CAA, manager Gerry Harrington and attorneys Jake Bloom, Patrick Knapp and Steven Brookman.

Vaughan most recently wrote "Nine Lives," which is set up at Millennium with Marcos Siega directing. It also is being produced by Jacobson and Wedaa. Vaughan is repped by ICM and Tavel Entertainment.

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Cage, LaBute On ‘Wicker’ Update

March 21, 2002

By ZORIANNA KIT

Nicolas Cage is teaming with filmmaker Neil LaBute on a modern-day remake of the 1973 British cult thriller "The Wicker Man" for Universal Pictures and StudioCanal.

LaBute will write and direct the project, with Cage starring and producing though his Saturn Films. Saturn's Norm Golightly also is producing with Joanne Sellar ("The Anniversary Party").

"Wicker," originally released in the United States by National General Films and in the United Kingdom by British Lion, is now part of the Canal Plus film library. Written by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Robin Hardy, the 1973 film stars Edward Woodward as a Scottish policeman investigating the disappearance of a little girl. The policeman travels to a remote island where he is shocked to discover a colony of modern-day pagans. LaBute's adaptation will be set in present-day America.

"I have been passionate about the original for years," Sellar said. "I couldn't be happier about working with Neil. He has the ideal sensibility for this project."

Saturn is no stranger to horror projects, having produced last year's indie feature "Shadow of the Vampire." Golightly said, "Neil is the perfect filmmaker to bring this haunting and revered cult classic to the modern screen."

"Wicker" reteams Saturn with Universal, who worked together on the upcoming Alan Parker-directed feature "The Life of David Gale." Cage also has starred in such recent Universal features as "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and "The Family Man."

Sellar previously produced the Paul Thomas Anderson features "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia."

Saturn next produces the indie feature "Sonny," which marks Cage's directorial debut.

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Blethyn, Suvari In ‘Pony’ Stable For Helmer Cage

December 20, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

Brenda Blethyn and Mena Suvari will star opposite James Franco in the indie feature "Pony Ride" (aka "Sonny"), which will mark the feature directorial debut of Nicolas Cage, who is producing through his Saturn Films.

Gold Circle Films is financing and co-producing the film, which begins shooting next month in New Orleans.

Written by John Carlen, "Pony" will see Franco playing Sonny, a male hustler who joins the Army in an attempt to get out of his family's gigolo lifestyle and get a real job. When he's discharged, Sonny visits his family in New Orleans to look for work, only to find his mother (Blethyn) determined to bring him back to the family business. Suvari plays a hooker working for Sonny's mom who is sympathetic to Sonny's plight because she'd like to get out of that life as well.

Cage will produce the project with Saturn's Norm Golightly.

Blethyn, repped by ICM, next stars in such features as Good Machine's "Lovely and Amazing," MGM/UA's "Pumpkin" and Miramax Films' "Plots With a View."

Suvari, repped by the Gersh Agency and attorney Debbie Klein, next stars in Jonas Ackerlund's indie feature "Spun."

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Franco Has ‘Sonny’ Role For Cage

December 10, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

James Franco will star in the title role of the indie feature "Sonny," which will mark the feature directorial debut of Nicolas Cage, who is producing through his Saturn Films.

Gold Circle Films looks to be coming aboard to finance and co-produce the film, said to be budgeted in the $5 million range.

The project marks a coup for Franco, who came to prominence this year when he landed the coveted role of film icon James Dean in the TNT biopic of the same name. Since then, Franco went on to shoot starring roles in such high-profile features as Columbia Pictures' "Spider-Man" and Warner Bros.' "City by the Sea."

Written by John Carlen, "Sonny" will see Franco playing a male hustler who joins the Army in an attempt to get out of his family's gigolo lifestyle and get a real job. When he's discharged, Sonny visits his family in New Orleans to look for work, only to find his mother is determined to bring him back to the family business.

Cage will produce the project with Saturn's Norm Golightly.

Franco, repped by ICM, will also star in MGM/UA's "Deuces Wild."

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Cage Does ‘Volunteer’ Work

November 5, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

New Line Cinema has picked up the sci-fi thriller pitch "The Volunteer," with Nicolas Cage attached to star and produce through his Saturn Films.

The project is based on an idea by television writer Sam Egan ("The Outer Limits") and producer Richard B. Lewis, the latter of whom is also producing through his Southpaw Media Films. Saturn Films' Norm Golightly is also producing.

Egan will write the script for "Volunteer," which tells the story of an Iowa State Trooper who seeks to gain retribution for the death of his daughter and instead unwittingly becomes a pawn between two alien races: one bent on survival and the other on destruction.

"Sam Egan is one of the most creative writers of our time," Cage said. "His work on 'The Outer Limits' television series was thought-provoking and inspired. In the midst of all the current chaos we are experiencing in our country, the story of 'The Volunteer' will emerge in a very timely and provocative way. All of us at Saturn feel very fortunate to be working with Sam."

New Line vp production Christopher Godsick and creative executive Stephanie Striegel are overseeing the project.

Egan, repped by Artists Management Group, is an executive producer on the upcoming Showtime series "Jeremiah." His credits include such television shows as "Northern Exposure" "The Fall Guy," and "Quincy, M.E."

Cage, repped by CAA, next stars in MGM's "Windtalkers." He is readying production on Warner Bros.' "Constantin." His Intermedia-based Saturn Films, which produced the Lions Gate feature "Shadow of the Vampire," is producing Universal Pictures' "The Life of David Gale."

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Winslet Facing ‘Life’ With Uni, Helmer Parker

October 2, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

Kate Winslet is in early negotiations to star as the female lead in Universal Pictures' "The Life of David Gale" for director Alan Parker. The project is slated to go into production Friday in Austin, Texas, with Kevin Spacey and Laura Linney also starring.

"Life," written by Charles Randolph, is a drama about a professor (Spacey) who advocates the abolition of capital punishment. When he is falsely accused and convicted of murdering his best friend and colleague (Linney), he finds himself on death row. He requests that a journalist (Winslet) interview him about his predicament, causing her to take up his case. Eventually, the real circumstances of the crime are revealed.

Nicolas Cage's Intermedia-based Saturn Films, headed by Norm Golightly, initially set "Life" up as a pitch at Warner Bros. The project was then put in turnaround and acquired by Intermedia.

Parker came aboard "Life" in the fall, and the project was subsequently set up at Universal, where Parker and his Dirty Hands Prods. have a first-look label relationship via the PolyGram acquisition (HR 10/30).

"Life" is being produced by Intermedia, Saturn, Dirty Hands and Lisa Moran.
The project marks Winslet's third collaboration with Intermedia. The actress next stars in the company's upcoming indie feature "Enigma" directed by Michael Apted and "Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch," which Miramax is distributing domestically.

Winslet, repped by WMA, is a double Academy Award nominee, having been nominated for her roles in "Titanic" and "Sense and Sensibility." She most recently starred onscreen in "Quills."

Linney Lured By Uni’s Story Of ‘David Gale’

August 17, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

Laura Linney is in advanced negotiations to star opposite Kevin Spacey in Universal Pictures' "Life of David Gale" for director Allan Parker. The project is slated to go into production in the fall.

"Life," written by Charles Randolph, is a drama about a professor (Spacey) who advocates the abolition of capital punishment. When he is falsely accused and convicted of murdering his best friend and colleague, Constance Harraway (Linney), he finds himself on death row. He requests that a journalist interview him about the case, causing her to take up his case.

Eventually, the discovery of the real circumstances of the crime is revealed.

The studio has an offer out to Nicole Kidman for the role of the journalist.

Nicolas Cage's Intermedia-based Saturn Films, headed by Norm Golightly, initially set "David Gale" up as a pitch at Warner Bros.

The project was then put in turnaround and acquired by Intermedia.

Parker came aboard "David Gale" in the fall, and the project was subsequently set up at Universal, where Parker and his Dirty Hands Prods. have a first-look label relationship via the PolyGram acquisition (HR 10/30).

"David Gale" is now being produced by Intermedia, Saturn, Dirty Hands and Lisa Moran. Various high-profile actors had circled the project, including George Clooney, before Spacey decided last month to commit (HR 7/16).

"We're thrilled at the prospect of working with an actress of Laura's caliber," Golightly told The Hollywood Reporter.

Linney, repped by ICM and Artists Management Group, earned her first best actress nomination this year for her performance in "You Can Count on Me."

She next stars in Screen Gems' "The Mothman Prophecies" opposite Richard Gere and the Showtime feature "Wild Iris" opposite Gena Rowlands. Her credits include "The House of Mirth," "The Truman Show" and "Primal Fear."

Spacey Ready To Live Life As ‘David Gale’

July 16, 2001

By ZORIANNA KIT

Two-time Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is in final negotiations to star in the title role of Universal Pictures/Intermedia Films' "The Life of David Gale" for director Alan Parker. Production is slated to begin in mid-September with Nicolas Cage's Intermedia-based Saturn Films producing.

The project reteams Spacey with Universal, which is distributing the actor's upcoming feature "K-Pax," in which he stars opposite Jeff Bridges for director Iain Softley.

"Gale," written by Charles Randolph, is a drama about a professor (Spacey) who advocates the abolition of capital punishment. When he is falsely accused and convicted of murdering an activist, he finds himself on death row.

Saturn, headed by Norm Golightly, initially set "Gale" up as a pitch at Warner Bros. The project was then put in turnaround and acquired by Intermedia. Parker came aboard "Gale" last fall and the project was subsequently set up at Universal, where Parker and his Dirty Hands Prods. have a first-look label relationship via the PolyGram acquisition. (HR 10/30). Various high-profile actors had circled the project, including George Clooney, before Spacey decided to commit.

"Kevin is a rare actor with the ability to bring this complex character to life," Golightly said. "We are proud to be working with him on 'David Gale.'"

Ironically, Spacey's production company, Trigger Street Prods., also has a production deal at Intermedia but will not be producing the film.

Spacey is repped by WMA, manager Joanne Horowitz and attorney Doug Stone. He won a best actor Oscar for his role in "American Beauty" and a supporting actor Oscar for his role in "The Usual Suspects." He next stars in Miramax's "The Shipping News."