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Pandora, Gaylord back teen drama 'Donnie'
Lensing is set to begin in July.
Both Gaylord and Pandora are owned by the Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment. The production is the first that teams the two film companies: "Donnie" will be supervised by Gaylord Films prexy Hunt Lowry along with Casey La Scala.
"Donnie Darko" marks the directorial debut of Richard Kelly, who also wrote the screenplay. Jason Schwartzman ("Rushmore") is attached to star and Barrymore will also take a role.
"Donnie" centers on a bright 16-year-old from a normal middle-class family who after miraculously escaping death in a freak accident, is drawn into a bizarre scenario in which he is granted 28 more days of life before he must relive the same accident.
" 'Donnie Darko' is a highly original and imaginative screenplay -- a curious mix of 'American Beauty' and 'Sixth Sense.' We are convinced it has enormous audience appeal," said Ernst Goldschmidt, prexy of Pandora.
"I feel honored to be working with Richard Kelly," said Barrymore. "My partner Nancy Juvonen and I think this a truly wonderful story and are excited to be a part of this amazing project."
Bought by Gaylord in 1998, Paris-based Pandora has been involved in financing and distributing such films as the "Shine" and "Koyla," as well as "Tango," "Four Days in September" and "Like Water for Chocolate."
Pandora's slate includes "Honest," directed by Dave Stewart and starring three members of the Brit girl band All Saints; Ben Elton's "Maybe Baby," starring Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson (to be released in the U.S. by USA Films); and Alan Rudolf's "Trixie," starring Emily Watson, Dermot Mulroney and Nick Nolte (to be released in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics).
