New York-based production and finance company Latitude Media is readying three films in its development slate including Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk’s English-language debut The 8th Sea.

The action feature about modern-day pirates is based on an original screenplay by Australian writer Chris Cudlipp. It will shoot in spring 2013 in the UK, at Pinewood Studios and on location. Bondarchuk previously directed the epic Stalingrad (still in production) and Russian box-office hit 9th Company.

Bondarchuk said: “I am thrilled to be asked to direct this very relevant, intelligent and exciting project and I hope to replicate the success of 9th Company on a worldwide basis with The 8th Sea.”

Daria Jovicic of Latitude Media added, “It is an honor to be working with Fedor, because of his immense talent and reputation as well as his cinematic heritage. I am confident we can make this film a huge success.”

Also on Latitude’s slate are Peter Webber’s Tesla, about the famed inventor.

“After Girl with a Pearl Earring Daria and I were looking for a project to work on together,” says Webber. “As a producer Daria really puts her faith in your vision, which is a wonderful thing. Tesla is an exciting and at the same time daunting project. We absolutely want to do justice to the giant of a character that is Nikola Tesla, whose visionary mind influenced the whole world.”

And the company is working on Australian writer/director Husein Alicajic’s Divine Shadows. The drama/thriller is set in the US Bible Belt where dark secrets are revealed. WME is packaging the project – with Alfred Molina attached — and SC Films International is handling sales. The film will shoot in New Mexico later this year.

 “This is one of the most thought provoking and intriguing projects I have read in a long time, and I am looking forward to the prospect of working with such anexciting new talent” said Simon Crowe of SC Films. “Having Alfred Molina already attached speaks volumes for the quality of the script.”

“Despite this being Alicajic’s first feature, he has an incredibly strong filmmaking pedigree” added Jovicic. “His inimitable talent has only been enhanced by directing award winning international shorts and commercials, as well as working with such diverse filmmakers as Alex Proyas and Steven Soderberg along the way.”

Jovicic’s Latitude is also working on The Lost Honor of Katherina Bloom and Place, both to be shot in New York. 

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