The U.K.’s Allied Entertainments has partnered with Germany’s United Film Partners to produce “Nostradamus,” a$ 15 million film about the controversial visionary. Tcheky Karyo (“La Femme Nikita”) has signed to play the title role. Pic will start shooting in May, under direction of Oscar-winning set designer Roger Christian (“Star Wars”). Piers Ashworth and Knut Boeser script. Producers are Edward Simons and Harold Reichebner; exec producers are Peter McRae, David Mintz and Kent Walwin. August Entertainment will handle worldwide sales.
“A Dangerous Woman,” Amblin Entertainment’s first co-production with an independent producer, World Films Inc., has completed principal photography. Debra Winger, Barbara Hershey and Gabriel Byrne star in the drama scripted by Naomi Foner. Foner also produces, with Kathleen Kennedy exec producing. Stephen Gyllenhaall (“Waterland”) directs. Pic is slated for a fall release through Gramercy Pictures.
Angelika Films Inc. announced the acquisition of a new U.S. film, “Snow Dog” starring Jack Palance.
Sean Connery has been confirmed to star in Bruce Beresford’s “A Good Man in Africa,” which begins shooting next month in Africa. Pic also stars John Lithgow , Louis Gossett Jr., Joanne Whalley-Kilmer and Diana Rigg. Capitol Films is selling the film at AFM, along with “The Chase,” starring Charlie Sheen; “Sirens ,” directed by John Duigan (“Flirting”) and starring Sam Neill and Hugh Grant; and drama “Radio Inside.” Also on Capitol’s slate are Juzo Itami’s “The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion,”
Columbia TriStar Home Video and Troma Inc. have signed a distribution agreement to release Troma movies in Australia and New Zealand theatrically and on homevideo through CTHV. CTHV will premiere such pix as “Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.” and “The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid: Nuke ‘Em High III” under the banner Troma 2000.
Prism Pictures has named veteran film exec Larry Sugar as a consultant and a member of its board of directors. Sugar will be responsible for representing Prism in the area of international co-productions as well as serve as a consultant in international sales and marketing.
Prism Pictures has acquired worldwide rights for the feature “Tale of a Vampire” starring Julian Sands, and will bow film at AFM, according to Liz Mackiewicz, VP international sales and acquisitions. Prism also is offering thrillers “Bitter Harvest,” starring Patsy Kensit and Stephen Baldwin, and “Snapdragon,” with Steven Bauer.
