Anderson is allergic to M’max ‘Cat’

Miramax Films is having a hard time getting into the Brad Anderson business.

Anderson will no longer direct “When The Cat’s Away,” Miramax’s remake of the 1996 French-language film “Chacun Cherche son Chat,” which is slated to star Heather Graham.

Terms of the separation are still being worked out, but the hope is the project can find another director with Graham in place, and in time for a summer start.

Anderson penned the screenplay for the English-language version with his writing partner Lyn Vaus and actress Cara Buono. Set in Manhattan’s trendy Nolita district, the story follows a young woman whose search for a missing cat leads her to meet a strange and colorful variety of locals.

When Miramax picked up Anderson’s “Next Stop, Wonderland” at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival for a reported sum north of $6 million, the mini-major also negotiated a two-picture deal with Anderson and Vaus. “Cat’s Away” would have been the first picture under that deal.

However, Anderson found his own financing for his most recent film, “Happy Accidents,” which stars Vincent D’Onofrio and Marisa Tomei and premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Paramount Classics came close to acquiring the romantic comedy, but the deal failed to close.

Among the difficulties: “Accidents” was partially financed through the Independent Film Channel, and Par Classics wasn’t interested in making a deal without television rights.