New Line scares up $1.3m for 'Monster'

Scribe is former sr. VP of prod'n at Davis Ent.

By CLAUDE BRODESSER

Kochoff

Ending a bidding war with its offer of just over $1.3 million, New Line Cinema late Tuesday night snapped up Anya Kochoff's comedy script "Monster-in-Law," edging out Dimension Films.

Management and production concern Benderspink will produce. Sale also provides for a blind script deal for the scribe at the studio, with Benderspink producing the resulting pic as well. New Line exec VP Richard Brener will oversee that project's development with creative exec Magnus Kim.

No stranger to comedy, Kochoff is a former senior veepee of production at Fox-based Davis Entertainment who worked under a pseudonym as she began her writing career.

"Monster" is about an unlucky-in-love girl who's set to marry what appears to be the perfect guy until she meets his mother, who has plans to derail their courtship and earn the title of the world's worst mother-in-law.

Endeavor-repped Kochoff has written feature spec "Something Wicked" for 20th Century Fox, and Jennifer Aniston is attached to star. Her spec "One" is in development at Par-based Lakeshore Entertainment.

She's also scripted a sitcom pilot for CBS last year called "Sid and Lou," produced by Patricia Heaton.