Benderspink, Sandbar Pictures and Fine & Mellow Prods. are teaming to produce a remake of the Danish film "Chinaman," with Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont writing and directing.
Story centers on a man whose life is upended when his wife of more than 25 years leaves him unexpectedly. During his nightly visit to a Chinese takeout restaurant, the owner makes him a business proposal whose results are far beyond his wildest dreams.
Kaplan and Elfont most recently sold "99 Problems" to Joe Roth for Sony and have been rewriting "Maid of Honor" for Sony.
New Line-based Benderspink recently set up "All Boxed" by Ross Venokur and "Save the Date" by Jared Bush at the mini-major; shingle's also producing "Bob the Musical" by Mike Bender for Disney.
Sandbar is in production on Daniel Waters' feature "Sex and Death 101" and Tom Shepard docu "Whiz Kids." It is developing a comedy with Kayla Alpert at Fox, a drama by Matthew Specktor for Warner Independent and Chloe King's "Lorelei."
Original "Chinaman" was directed by Henrik Ruben Genz, written by Kim Fupz Aakeson and produced by Thomas Gammeltoft at Danish company Fine & Mellow. Shingle's developing a remake of "Oh Happy Day" for Disney.
Gammeltoft will exec produce the "Chinaman" remake. Benderspink's Chris Bender, JC Spink and Jake Weiner are producing, along with Sandbar's Lizzie Friedman and Greg Little.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com