Poll warms to 'Winter' pic
O'Connor to helm feature, 'Lion' also opens B'Way
Poll and Intermedia have created a joint venture company, MP Films, to make the pic. Poll will produce with Joni Sighvatsson exec producing alongside Intermedia's Guy East and Nigel Sinclair.
The move comes as a new legit production of "Lion," starring Laurence Fishburne and Stockard Channing and directed by Michael Mayer, opens on Broadway.
"Lion" was first made into a feature by Poll, and scripted by Goldman, in 1968, with Anthony Harvey directing. Pic went on to win three Academy Awards, including best actress for Katharine Hepburn.
The new version will be based on Goldman's original screenplay, although another writer may be brought in to make certain revisions. (Goldman, brother of "Butch Cassidy" screenwriter William Goldman, passed away last October.)
Intermedia will arrange financing for the new film and handle worldwide distribution. Intermedia will also arrange domestic distribution in consultation with Poll and Sighvatsson.
"I've had a number of inquiries (to do a remake) over the years," Poll said. "Now, I've decided that the time is right."
The veteran producer, who retained remake and sequel rights to "Lion" following the success of the original, has held several meetings with O'Connor. The Irish helmer proved his mettle with theatrical adaptations on "Lughnasa," based on the play by Brian Friel.
O'Connor and Poll see "eye to eye" on the adaptation, according to Poll, which will be made for "today's audience." Casting will get under way as soon as O'Connor's deal is done and the script is finalized.
The original "Lion" pic, which also starred Peter O'Toole, Jane Merrow and John Castle, was shot in the U.K. and France, netting seven Oscar nominations. It was the feature acting debut for Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins.
Goldman's play premiered originally in New York in 1966, starring Rosemary Harris and Robert Preston. The two Goldman brothers first started writing together in 1961 on the London play "They Might Be Giants."
"Lion" became James Goldman's first screenplay, and was followed by other period adventures, including "Nicholas and Alexandra" and "Robin and Marian."
Intermedia's credits include "Hilary and Jackie," distributed by October Films in the U.S., and "Sliding Doors," jointly distributed by Miramax and Paramount. Intermedia is currently financing and distributing a series of Shakespeare comedies, beginning with "Love's Labour's Lost," directed by Kenneth Branagh. Miramax will distribute the pics in the U.S., while Intermedia handles foreign.
O'Connor's other credits include "Circle of Friends" and "Inventing the Abbots." He is repped by UTA.
Attorneys Skip Brittenham and David Nochimson repped Poll. Kathy Goodman, head of business affairs, negotiated for Intermedia.
