Bauer Martinez Entertainment (BME) has decided not toexercise its option to extend its first look deal with Elie Samaha's Gibraltar Entertainment,which expired on Jun 1.

Under Samaha's deal with Bauer Martinez the company producedthriller The Flockstarring Richard Gere and Claire Danes and set to open next year in NorthAmerican, and acquired North American distribution rights to NationalLampoon's Van Wilder II: The Rise Of Taj, starring Kal Penn.

'It's been great working with Elie,' BME chairman andchief executive officer Philippe Martinez said. 'He is a good friend andwe wish him the best of luck with his new endeavours.

'BauerMartinez is now focused on producing highly commercial, marketable comedieslike Amy Heckerling's I Could Never Be Your Woman, which we are very excited about.'