Trio of "Girls" in business on Anspaugh indie
Mira Sorvino, Mariah Carey and Melora Walters ("Magnolia") are in negotiations to topline the dramatic indie feature "Wise Girls" for director David Anspaugh. Lions Gate is finalizing a deal to distribute the project domestically, with Intermedia on board to handle international distribution. The project, budgeted at about $10 million, is slated to start shooting in mid-May in Halifax.
Written by John Meadows, "Girls" is about three waitresses (Sorvino, Carey and Walters) who work at a mob-owned restaurant and end up getting involved in the business. Leading Pictures' Anthony Esposito and R.G.H. Lions Share's Billy Blake are producing with Jack Soyka and Bill Blum.
"Girls" marks the first collaboration between the 3-year-old Leading Pictures and foreign sales agency R.G.H. Lion's Share. The companies have partnered in the newly formed Leading Lion Entertainment, for which "Girls" will be the inaugural feature. Anspaugh, repped by CAA, directed "Moonlight and Valentino", "Rudy" and "Hoosiers". The film was packaged by WMA Independents' Rena Ronson, who put the financing together and brought Lions Gate and Intermedia together.
Sorvino and Carey are repped by WMA, Sorvino additionally by manager Gene Fox and Carey additionally by Talent Entertainment Group's Suzan Bymel. Carey stars in Columbia Pictures' upcoming "All That Glitters". Sorvino, who most recently starred in the A&E telefilm "The Great Gatsby", took home a supporting actress Oscar in 1996 for "Mighty Aphrodite". Walters, repped by Writers and Artists Agency, next stars in John McNaughton's "Speaking of Sex" and the indie feature "Rain." (Hollywood Reporter)
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