Lion gambles on third Vegas-set project
MGM bets on pic 'High Rollers'
The laffer revolves around the adventures of two guys visiting Las Vegas who are mistaken for high rollers.
Studio is looking to set pic at Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.
Deal for the script was made just weeks before Sony announced it was purchasing MGM and its assets. But the Lion stresses it's business as usual at the studio, and is considering putting "The High Rollers" on the fast track.
Pic will be overseen by Andy Davis and Erik Baiers at MGM.
Comedy will be competing with two other Vegas-based pics in the development pipeline at the studio.
Brett Ratner recently agreed to direct gambling caper "Breaking Vegas," with Kevin Spacey producing. And in April, studio ponied up $1 million to pick up an untitled poker pitch from Don Rhymer ("Big Momma's House") for Dylan Sellers to produce.
An Emmy-winning scribe and former standup comedian, "The High Rollers" marks Coronel's first feature script sale.
He has written for the TV sitcoms "Teacher's Pet," "Family Guy" and "Men Behaving Badly." He also was recently a co-executive producer and showrunner of Klasky-Csupo's cartoon series "The Immigrants."
"The High Rollers" will mark the first pic Diggins has set up as a producer since leaving his post as senior veep of production at Paramount last year.
He is attached to produce "The Freddie Randall Story," with Peter Chelsom ("Shall We Dance") to direct.
