EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has picked up UK rights to Terry Jones’ comedy Absolutely Anything from GFM Films.

Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale lead cast in Monty Python star Jones’ first film (as director) in 18 years, which got underway in the UK on Monday (24).

The deal was struck between Michael Ryan for GFM Films, producer Ben Timlett and Zygi Kamasa and Nick Manzi for Lionsgate.

Lionsgate will release the film in the UK between April and July 2015.

Absolutely Anything follows a disillusioned school teacher (Pegg) who suddenly finds he has the ability to do anything he wants, a challenge bestowed upon him by a group of power-crazed aliens watching him from space.

The Aliens will be voiced by Jones himself alongside Monty Python collaborators John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Eric Idle.

The film’s supporting cast includes Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley, Rob Riggle and Robin Williams, who voices Pegg’s loyal canine companion.

The script is written by Terry Jones and Gavin Scott. Producers are Ben Timlett and Bill Jones at Bill & Ben Productions. Mike Medavoy, who previously worked with Terry Jones on Life of Brian and Eric the Viking, will serve as executive producer with Chris Chesser.

Triple Academy Award winner Jim Acheson is designing the costumes, sets and aliens.

Mike Ryan of GFM Films said: “This is a big plus for the film to have Lionsgate on board. Our respective marketing teams have already started work on planning the film’s marketing campaign”.

Previous deals for the film have been struck in German-speaking territories (Telepool, Senator), Scandinavia (Svenske), Iceland (Myndform), Australasia (Icon), CIS (Exponeta), Middle East (ECS), Poland (Cinephil/Monolith), Bulgaria (A Plus), former Yugolslavia (VTI), Thailand (Sahamongkofilm), Singapore (Shaw Renters), Malaysia (Rainfilm) and world airlines (EIM).

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