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Screen Media gets Penn in 'Pippa'

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By MICHAEL FLEMING

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Screen Media Films has acquired distribution rights to the Robin Wright Penn starrer "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," and will release the film theatrically in late October.

Pic, directed by Rebecca Miller, had its world premiere at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival. Acquisition was made by Screen Media Films president Robert Baruc and CAA, which packaged the film and arranged financing.

Penn stars as the devoted wife of an accomplished publisher, played by Alan Arkin, whose resolve crumbles when her husband forces a move to a staid Connecticut retirement community. Maria Bello, Monica Bellucci, Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are part of the ensemble cast.

Miller adapted the script from her own novel. Dede Gardner and Lemore Syvan produced the film. Brad Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, Jean-Luc De Fanti and Jeff Sagansky are executive producers.