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New Line Cinema has optioned the film rights to Anthony Capella's unpublished novel "Chemistry for Beginners," a romantic comedy about a sex researcher who falls for one of his subjects.

Movie deal is Capella's third. His debut novel "The Food of Love" was optioned by Warner Bros. in a six-figure deal, and his next book, "The Wedding Officer," was picked by Material Entertainment, a U.K. production company backed by New Line Intl.

New Line snapped up "Chemistry for Beginners" even before Capella's reps had started negotiating a publishing deal.

Deal was brokered by Rob Kraitt at A.P. Watt in London with New Line's senior VP of European production Ileen Maisel and exec VP production Mark Ordesky.

"Chemistry for Beginners" is the story of a shy university biochemist running a research project into female sexual dysfunction. With the big drug companies clamoring for results, he becomes caught in a triangle of intrigue and attraction between his female co-researcher and a pretty student who shows an unexpected response to his experimental treatment.