Pacifica on 'Holy' roll

Villard to publish 'Wolves' sequel Sept. 15

By DANA HARRIS

IMF-backed Pacifica Film Development has purchased feature rights to the Michael Blake novel "The Holy Road," the soon-to-be-published sequel to Blake's "Dances With Wolves." Blake, who won an Oscar for his adaptation of "Wolves," has also been tapped to adapt "Holy Road" for the bigscreen.

"Holy Road" continues the saga a decade after the first novel's end. When former Lt. John Dunbar's wife and youngest child are abducted by white invaders who are closing in on the Plains Indians, he goes on a mission to rescue his family.

Book will be published Sept. 15 by Villard, a division of Random House.

Under Intermedia's arrangement with IMF, Intermedia has first look on "Holy Road" when the project is fully packaged.

"Dances With Wolves" earned $184 million domestically and a worldwide box office take of $425 million.

"The Holy Road" will be produced by Oscar-winning producer Barry Spikings ("The Deer Hunter") and IMF. Blake will serve as an executive producer on the project.

Janklow Nesbitt represents publishing rights for "Holy Road."