'Visitor' comes for London, Skoll

McCarthy to helm pic for Participant, Groundswell

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

McCarthy

Tom McCarthy will write and helm "The Visitor" for Michael London's Groundswell Prods. and Jeff Skoll's Participant Prods., marking his first directing effort since indie hit "The Station Agent."

Participant and Groundswell are partnering to co-finance the comedic dramat, which is being produced by Mary Jane Skalski's Next Wednesday Prods. Richard Jenkins ("North Country") stars.

"The Visitor" revolves around a widower who lives a mundane existence as a college economics professor. His world is turned upside down when he meets two illegal immigrants, one of whom he befriends and tires to help when discovered by U.S. immigration authorities.

McCarthy is set to start shooting Oct. 2 in Gotham. Project reunited him with key members of his "Station Agent" team, including Skalski, his producing partner.

"Station Agent," released in 2003 by Miramax after making a splash at Sundance, earned McCarthy several kudos for his original screenplay.

Groundswell and Participant, formed to co-finance pics with socio-political storylines, were both pursuing the project when they decided to partner.

"We had already started working together on other projects, but this felt like the one we really wanted to do together." said London, who launched Groundswell in February after raising $100 million in equity.

Participant production topper Ricky Strauss said "Visitor" isn't just about an unlikely friendship; it's also about the experience of being an American in today's times.

Participant has co-financed pics including "Good Night, and Good Luck," "An Inconvenient Truth" and Syriana.

Groundswell began production this week on its first project, "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh."

While he hasn't directed since "Station Agent," McCarthy has continued to be busy as an actor, taking roles in the upcoming "Beautiful Ohio" and "Year of the Dog." He also appeared in "Syriana" and "Good Night, and Good Luck," among other films.