Exclusive, Alliance team for Hammer's Woman In Black 3D

Exclusive Media Group, Hammer Films and Alliance Films have announced that Exclusive and Alliance will co-finance Hammer’s new ghost story The Woman In Black 3D.

Exclusive Film Distribution, now headed by Alex Walton, is handling world sales of the film here at Cannes.

James Watkins (Eden Lake) will direct and the film marks Hammer’s first 3D production. Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass) is adapting the screenplay based on Susan Hill’s bestseller.

Alliance will distribute the film through its network of Momentum (UK), Aurum (Spain), and Alliance (Canada).

Simon Oakes will produce for Exclusive’s Hammer Films Label, with Richard Jackson at Talisman Films. Executive producers are Exclusive’s Nigel Sinclair and East are serving as Executive Producers, along with Roy Lee for Vertigo Entertainment

Production is set to begin in autumn 2010.

The story follows a young lawyer who has to work in a deceased client’s isolated house where he sees a mysterious woman dressed in black.
 
“James Watkins has a huge fanbase from his award-winning suspense horror Eden Lake. Jane Goldman thrilled audiences worldwide with her script for Kick Ass, and Susan Hill’s extraordinarily chilling novel has won over readers everywhere,” said Hammer CEO Simon Oakes.
 
Exclusive co-chairman Guy East added: “Because of the tremendous pedigree of those involved, the interest in this project has been enormous for us from very early on and we are now thrilled to have Alliance onboard as a partner. The recent decision to shoot the film in 3D will create a genuinely immersive experience for the audience.”
 
Alliance president Charles Layton said, “We are delighted to be co-financing this ambitious 3D Hammer project with Exclusive.  It fits in perfectly with our intent to acquire important, commercial films, for our three territories. We feel that the subject matter will appeal equally in Spain as it will in the UK and Canada.”

Exclusive’s films in post-production include Matt Reeves’ Let Me In; Antti Jokinen’s The Resident; and Peter Weir’s The Way Back.