Film Rites, the venture between Mandate Pictures and filmmaker Steve Zaillian, has announced that Pat Healy has come on board to write the script for Nacho Vigalondo’s Gangland.

The film is based on an original idea by Vigalondo, who will direct.

The comedy is about a team of videogame developers who promise to deliver a realistic game called Gangland but get caught up in the real criminal underworld.

Zaillian will produce and Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Garrett Basch brought in the project and will oversee in some producing capacity with Tendo Nagenda.

Film Rites has a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Mandate co-finances projects as well as
handling international sales.

Zaillian and Basch are already working as producers of Vigalondo’s English-language adaptation of his own Spanish hit Timecrimes at UA/MGM.

“Nacho’s work in Spain is consistently innovative and energetic. In particular, we’re huge fans of his film,
Timecrimes, and are excited to have the chance to develop another of his very original ideas with our partners at
Mandate,” Zaillian said.

Vigalondo was Oscar nominated for his short 7:35 In The Morning, and Timecrimes debuted at Sundance 2008. He is repped by ICM, Dave Chariton at Miners Mills Entertainment, and attorney David Weber at
Sloane Offer Weber Dern.

Pat Healy’s past projects include The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and HBO’s In
Treatment. He is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

Zaillian an was Oscar winner for his Schindler’s List screenplay and he has also written or co-written American
Gangster, The Galcon And The Snowman, and Gangs of New York. Zaillian and Film Rites are repped by WME and Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown.

Dan Freedman brokered the deals on behalf of Film Rites, which will produce modestly budgeted, character-driven films.

Other projects Film Rites is developing are Jens Assur’s Close Far Away; Sacha Gervasi’s My Dinner With Herve; and Errol Morris’ Untitled Cryonics Project.

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