Fox nabs 'Trainspotting' director for sci-fi thriller

By TIM SWANSON

Fox Searchlight has signed on for sci-fi thriller "28 Days Later" with director Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting") attached. Separately, Searchlight is in final negotiations with Jim Sheridan ("The Boxer") to pick up his semiautobiographical project "East of Harlem."

In "28 Days Later," a deadly virus sweeps the planet. Script was penned by Alex Garland, author of novel "The Beach," which Boyle made into a film for Fox.

"We are pleased to have found a home for '28 Days Later' with Fox Searchlight because of the company's commitment to and respect for the filmmaker's voice," said Boyle, who is repped by ICM.

Movie will be produced by DNA Films' Andrew Macdonald, marking the fifth collaboration between Boyle and Macdonald. Past projects were "The Beach," "A Life Less Ordinary," "Trainspotting" and "Shallow Grave."

Removing the cap

Searchlight is co-financing "28 Days Later" with the U.K.'s Film Council, suggesting that the pic's budget could exceed the usual $15 million cap for films funded solely by Searchlight. Under the deal, Searchlight will retain worldwide distribution rights.

Pic, which has yet to be cast, is skedded to lens outside of London beginning in August.

"We are extremely excited to continue our successful relationship with Andrew, Danny and Alex," said Searchlight prexy Peter Rice. "They are groundbreaking, world-class filmmakers, and '28 Days Later' is exactly the kind of original and distinctive material that we relish making at Searchlight."

Sheridan's romantic drama "East of Harlem" centers on a couple who emigrate from Ireland to make a life in Gotham. Sheridan, who penned the script, will direct and produce. Budget is said to be around $10 million.

Pic is tentatively skedded to start lensing in late July in Ireland and Gotham. CAA-repped Samantha Morton ("Minority Report") is in negotiations to topline "Harlem."

While rumors circulated that Kate Winslet would star, she has since inked to appear in an adaptation of Francois Girard's "The Magician's Wife" with her "Quills" co-star Geoffrey Rush. That pic shoots in August.

Source: Variety