HanWay Films has acquired worldwide rights outsidethe UK for Michael Winterbottom's forthcoming Genova,which now has Colin Firth attached to star.

Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton's London-basedproduction company Revolution Films is producing with co-financing from Film4(which holds UK rights). Winterbottom will shoot the project in spring 2007 onlocation in Italy with post-production will follow in the UK. The director iscurrently in India shooting A Mighty Heart withAngelina Jolie for Paramount Vantage.

The script is written by Winterbottom and LaurenceCoriat, his collaborator on A Mighty Heartand 1999's Wonderland.The story follows Joe (Firth) and his two young daughters who move to theeponymous Italian town to get a fresh start following the sudden death of theirwife and mother. The elder sister explores the city's underbelly while heryounger sister claims to see her mother's ghost. Casting hasn't yet beenannounced for the two girls.

It's the first time the London-based sales companyhas worked with Winterbottom, whose previous films have frequently been sold byThe Works. "We've always wanted to work with Michael Winterbottom and AndrewEaton and we are thrilled to be involved with such a heart-warming,cosmopolitan story," said HanWay CEO Tim Haslam. "We're confident it's onewhich will resonate with film-lovers around the world."

HanWay's other current titles include SarahPolley's Away From Her, Julian Jarrold's Becoming Jane and Phillip Noyce's Dirt Music.

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