'Rex Mex' in Par's basket

Project marks the scribe Patrick's first sale

By CHRIS GARDNER

Paramount Pictures is heading south of the border, snapping up Shawn Patrick's script "Rex Mex." David O. Russell and Jason Blum are producing.

Story centers on a pro basketball player who flees to Mexico to avoid dangerous creditors and ends up hiding in the country's hoops league.

Pam Abdy, Ed Goemans and Alli Shearmur are shepherding the project at the studio. At Blum's Blumhouse Prods., exec Michael Falbo is credited with bringing "Rex Mex" into his company.

Project marks the scribe's first sale.

Blum recently wrapped the pic "Griffin and Phoenix," starring Dermot Mulroney and Amanda Peet, and is taking Winona Ryder-Joseph Fiennes starrer "The Darwin Awards" to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next month.