'Affair' for Thomas
Helmer takes on major league love story for New Line
Pic, based on the novel "The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story" by Peter Lefcourt, is about a star major league shortstop and family man who discovers that he is gay when he falls in love with his second baseman.
Tall Trees Prods.' Jenno Topping and Fusion Studios' Chris Moore will produce along with Thomas. New Line will finance and distribute the pic.
Thomas is currently directing the comedy drama "28 Days," starring Sandra Bullock, for Sony. Topping is producing. New Line execs hope that Thomas and Topping will segue to "Dreyfus" after "Days," with shooting beginning in late 1999 or early next year.
"We're excited about working with Betty on this smart, character-driven comedy," said New Line executive vice president of production Lynn Harris, who will oversee the pic together with New Line Prods. prexy Michael De Luca.
The "Dreyfus" script is by Lefcourt and Larry Levin. New Line plans to give it a polish during the production of "Days."
"Dreyfus" has been set up at several studios. Originally, it was optioned by the Avnet-Kerner Co. under its deal at Disney. After that it moved to 20th Century Fox, the studio that backed "Doctor Dolittle."
Thomas and Topping's Tall Trees signed a three-year deal with Sony Pictures last year. They also produced the teen comedy "Can't Hardly Wait" for Sony.
Prior to directing, Thomas was an actress, with a regular slot on "Hill Street Blues." She made her feature directing debut in 1992 with "Only You." Her other directing credits include "The Brady Bunch Movie" and "Private Parts." She is repped by CAA.
