Film News

Posted: Wed., Jan. 21, 1998, 11:00pm PT

'Pusher' a Screenland Bright spot

Bright signs on to adapt, direct remake of Danish hit

EXCLUSIVE
PARK CITY, Utah -- Director Matthew Bright, whose "Freeway" screened at Sundance two years ago, has signed on to adapt and direct the U.S. remake of Danish box office hit "Pusher" for Screenland Pictures.

Chris Hanley, producer of this year's dramatic competition entry "Buffalo 66," will produce, as will Screenland's Ash Shah, and Henrik Danstrup, who produced the original.

Portrait of a dealer

The film focuses on one week in the life of a successful, if small-time, drug dealer and his underworld milieu. When a deal goes sour, he's forced into a desperate hunt for cash in order to spare his life.

The new version will be set in the U.S. Northwest.

Screenland's parent company, Imperial Entertainment, bought the remake rights from "Pusher's" 25-year-old writer-director Nicholas Renf.

Bright's last outing, "Freeway," starred Kiefer Sutherland and Reese Witherspoon. His deal was negotiated by his manager Brad Wyman.

Hanley's producing credits include Fox Searchlight's upcoming "Two Guys and a Girl," starring Robert Downey Jr. and Heather Graham.

Shah currently is producing "Supernova" for United Artists.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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