Sidney Kimmel Entertainment(SKE) has come aboard as co-financer on Universal's spy thriller Breach, written and to be directed by Billy Ray in hisfirst feature since Shattered Glass.

Kimmel International will commence sales at AFM on the project and Universalwill oversee production and retain all North American rights.

Based on true events, Breachstars Ryan Phillippe as an aspiring FBI agent who is handpicked to work forveteran operative Robert Hanssen, played by Chris Cooper.

Before long the youngster suspects his mentor may represent a major securityrisk to the nation.

"Breach is typical of the A-leveltype of material that SKE and Kimmel International will be deliveringtointernational buyers," Kimmel International chief Mark Lindsay said.

"We're excited to partner with Universal and the film makers and proud torepresent Breach at AFM," SKE partner Jim Tauber said.

"Billy Ray is an enormously talented writer and director, and we are eager tosee him bring the biggest spy drama of the last 50 years to the screen."

Breach is set to go intoproduction in 2006 and is being produced by Scott Kroopf of Intermedia, BobbyNewmyer and Scott Strauss of Outlaw Productions, and SKE.

Universal Pictures' president of production Donna Langley and director ofdevelopment Kristin Lowe will oversee the project for the studio.