Intervision Partners to make Spanish big budget epic

Spanish/US production outfit Intervision Partners is in advanced negotiations with The Weinstein Company to put together a major project billed as the 'Spanish Joan Of Arc'.

The film will tell the story of Agustina Raimunda Maria Saragossa Domenech, a famous Spanish heroine who defended her country's independence during the Peninsular Wars against Napoleon.

British-born journalist Richard Thompsett, now based in the US, has written the script, which picked up best screenplay at the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival.

Casting is underway with Natalia Tena (who appeared in the last and upcoming Harry Potter films) as Intervision Partners' first choice to play Agustina. 'She would be perfect because she's British but her parents are Spanish. We have also approached Ellen Page and Natalie Portman for the role,' says Max Montalvo, a Spanish based producer with Intervision Partners.

Other cast members being considered are Daniel Radcliffe to play a young Lord Byron, Cillian Murphy, Joseph Fiennes or Jonathan Rhys Myers for the role of LT, General Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) and Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek or Eva Mendez to play the role of Agustina's older sister.

'We are hoping to shoot the film this year in either Lithuania or Malta with a couple of weeks in Zaragoza on location,' adds Montalvo. 'But we've been told Radcliffe is not available until 2010 so we might have to wait. Hopefully if Tena says yes, he'll want to take on the role as well.

'We are in advanced talks with The Weinstein Company to make the film, as part of a five year deal on a slate of films. I have talked to other studios, but I get on very well with The Weinstein Company. If they agree to take on Agustina we'll do most of the financing and they'll distribute it.'

The plan is to turn the film into a franchise with prequels and sequels. A director is yet to be attached to Agustina.

Intervision Partners was founded in 2006 in New York by Total Communications Group, Spanish Intercontinental TV, 4-D Creative Media and US cable network AmericanLife TV.