'State' on Paquin's plate

Pic marks the directing debut of scribe Lewy

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Paquin

Anna Paquin will star with Breckin Meyer in "Blue State," a romantic comedy about a young, idealistic Democratic campaigner who follows through on a promise to move to Canada if George W. Bush got re-elected.

Pic marks the directing debut of Marshall Lewy, who wrote the script. Paquin is exec producing, and her brother, Andrew Paquin, will produce under their Paquin Films banner. Eagle Vision's Kyle Irving will also produce, as will Lewy.

Lewy steps up to his feature debut after writing and directing short films including "Balkanization." Andrew Paquin joins the ranks of producers after working at private equity firms Blum Capital and Morgan Stanley. The Paquins and their producing cohorts raised the budget through indie financing sources.

Anna Paquin will next be seen in "X-Men: The Last Stand," which 20th Century Fox opens on May 26, and in the Kenneth Lonergan-directed "Margaret" for Fox Searchlight.