Beacon, Disney in 'Love'

Lynch spec focuses on romantic bad timing

By DANA HARRIS, CATHY DUNKLEY

Cole

Walt Disney Pictures and Beacon Pictures will co-finance and produce the romantic comedy "A Lot Like Love," which Nigel Cole will direct.

Beacon Pictures picked up the spec, which was written by tyro scribe Colin Patrick Lynch. Story focuses on a twentysomething couple who find each other at the wrong time.

Packaged by their ICM reps, Lynch and Cole teamed on a rewrite prior to the sale. Pic will begin casting almost immediately for a spring start.

Beacon principal Armyan Bernstein will produce. Disney exec VP Jason Reed brought the project into the studio.

Lynch was taking a break from serving lunch at the Rita Hayworth dining room on the Sony lot when his reps called with the good news.

Cole, who's managed by Industry, most recently directed "Calendar Girls," which Disney will release through Touchstone Pictures Dec. 19.