Protagonist Pictures confirms new female cast members and international sales for Bel Ami adaptation.

UK sales outfit Protagonist Pictures has confirmed further cast and multiple sales for the adaptation of the Guy de Maupassant novel, Bel Ami.

Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci join Twilight star Robert Pattinson on the project, which begins shooting in London and Budapest this week.

Bel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy (Pattinson) who travels through 1890s Paris using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth. It is set in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession. Holly Grainger, Philip Glenister and Colm Meaney will also feature.

The screenplay has been adapated byRachel Bennette and the film is directed by Cheek By Jowl directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod.

Protagonist has also struck a number of deals on the title including with RaiCinema, which came on board early as a production partner, and will handle the film in Italy. Studio Canal has secured rights for France, the UK, (Optimum Releasing) and Germany (Kinowelt).

Elsewhere, Protagonist have completed deals with Hopscotch (Australia); Independent (Benelux); Impuls (Switzerland); Golden Scene (Hong Kong and Macau); Unikorea Culture and Art (South Korea); Central Partnership (CIS); Ablo (Eastern Europe); California Filmes (Latin America); PT Camila (Indonesia) and Hollywood Entertainment (Greece and Cyprus).

The producer is Uberto Pasolini with Simon Fuller as executive producer. Bel Ami is a Redwave Films production in association with Simon Fuller’s new company XIX, Protagonist Pictures and RaiCinema.

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