New Line enriches 'Knockaround' duo
Gangster pitch bought for high six against seven figures
Pitch was described only as a postmodern gangster film. "People who live outside the lines of society are really fascinating to us and that's what this film will be about," Koppelman told Daily Variety.
Levien and Koppelman penned the poker-themed screenplay for Miramax's upcoming "Rounders," which is helmed by John Dahl and stars Matt Damon.
New Line prexy of production Michael De Luca brought in the project and will oversee "Knockaround Guys."
"Levien and Koppelman write with a lot of attitude, and we do so many films with first-time directors that I'm confident of their ability to articulate a vision," said De Luca.
Levien said that co-directing a film with Koppelman will not be a problem because "we have been best friends for 15 years, and we work together seamlessly as writers."
Levien and Koppelman's other feature credits include "Weasels" at United Artists, "Guido's All-American" at Warner Bros., as well as rewrites on "Disciple" and "Mandrake" at Disney.
Levien also recently sold a novel, "Wormwood," to Hyperion/Miramax.
Ramses IsHak and Spencer Baumgarten of the William Morris Agency brokered the deal for the scribes. Manager Seth Jaret of Revolution Entertainment and attorney Karl Austen of Armstrong & Hirsch also repped the pair.
