Company has pumped $12.7 million over the past five year into developing a dozen projects, Langmann said in Cannes Sunday, five of which have finished scripts and helmers attached.

With the exception of "Asterix," due to begin shooting next month, all are looking for coin.

Julien Seri will helm "a.k.a." based on the story of one-time Hollywood con artist Christophe Rocancourt; Louis Leterrier will helm "Blacksad," a pic adapted from a hit comic book; Jean-Francois Richet will direct two-parter "Mesrine," based on the story of a true-life French criminal, starring Vincent Cassell; "Cartouche," a historical actioner will be helmed by Tristan Aurouet ("Narco").

Helmer Rachid Bouchareb and producer Jean Brehat, in competition in Cannes with "Days of Glory," have signed a three-picture co-production deal with La Petite Reine.

First film will be "Les authentiques," helmed by Bouchareb, an actioner based on the true story of a French gang who traveled to Toyko to rob an armored transport van loaded with cash.

La Petite Reine has recently hired former EuropaCorp distribution exec Emmanuel Montamat as its managing director and Jean Cottin, former director of France's Chamber of Producers, as in-house producer.

Cottin will handle day-to-day production matters while Langmann and his "Asterix" co-helmer Frederic Forestier work on the pic, which starts shooting in Alicante, Spain, next month.

Pic, distributed by Pathe with Pathe and La Petite Reine handling international sales, has pre-sold to Russia, Canada, Greece and Eastern Europe since the start of the mart.