Senator will cross 'Bridge'

Budget is one of the highest for Euro films this year

By CATHY DUNKLEY, JOHN HOPEWELL

De Niro

In a first-day deal at this year's American Film Market, Senator Intl. has acquired worldwide sales and distribution rights outside France and Spain to "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," an 18th century ensemble drama that will topline Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates, Gabriel Byrne and Harvey Keitel.

An adaptation of Thornton Wilder's 1927 Pulitzer-prize winning novel of the same name, "Bridge" is budgeted at some $24 million, which makes it one of the highest-budgeted European films set to shoot this year.

Set against the background of an Inquisition trial in 1740s Peru, pic turns on the lives of five people who plunged to their deaths when the San Luis Rey bridge collapsed. It also explores the lives of people who knew them.

F. Murray Abraham, Geraldine Chaplin, Spanish actress Pilar Lopez de Ayala and Mark and Michael Polish also star.

"Bridge" was previously adapted for the bigscreen by both MGM and United Artists. New adaptation has been written and will be directed by Mary McGuckian ("Best," "This Is the Sea").

Project is produced by Samuel Hadida of Davis Films, Denise O'Dell at the Madrid-based Kanzaman and McGuckian at U.K. production company Pembridge Pictures.

Hadida's Metropolitan Film Export will take French rights and Kanzaman rights to Spain.

Tapping U.K. equity as well as British tax incentive funds arranged by Scion Film Financing and Movision, pic is skedded to begin production in Spain in April.