Bob Berney and Bill Polhad’s new, still-unnamed U.S. distribution outfit has made its first announced buy, acquiring all U.S. rights to director Jane Campion’s Cannes competish pic Bright Star.

Set in the early 19th century, Star is based on the true story of the passionate but ill-fated love affair between English Romantic poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. While the relationship inspired some of Keats’ greatest poetry, the affair was condemned by English society.

Bright Star, which was also scripted by Campion, will be released by Pathe in France on July 22 and in the U.K. by Warner Bros., with whom Pathe inked a strategic distribution deal in March.

Pathe Intl. is handling international sales.

… read on

A couple of new images from Bright Star are available in the gallery. The stills are so stunning, I’m very excited for the movie. I hope we will be getting a trailer in the coming month with the Cannes debut.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Bright Star: Production Stills
- Bright Star: On the Set

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abbie will indeed take part in Sucker Punch! by Zac Snyder as it’s been long rumored for weeks now. Her character is reportedly called Sweetpea.

Several actors have been in talks and negotiations to star in the movie, including Amanda Seyfried, Evan Rachel Wood and Emma Stone, but have fallen away because of scheduling conflicts.

Amanda Seyfried will no longer take the lead; that will go to actress Emily Browning. Jamie Chung, is replacing Emma Stone, and she plays Amber, a country girl with a big heart. Jena Malone will be taking on Wood’s part, playing Cornish’s younger sister. Both characters are inmates.

Set in the 1950s, Sucker centers on a girl confined to a mental institution by her evil stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternate reality to hide from the pain and in that world begins planning her escape, needing to steal five objects to help get her out.

Jane Campion’s Bright Star has made the official selection for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival!

The festival runs May 13-24 and hopefully Abbie will be in attendance at the film’s premieres and photocalls!

Abbie is reported in talks for Zac Snyder’s all-girl cast film Sucker Punch. Snyder’s concept – which he wrote with Steve Shibuya – is Alice In Wonderland with weapons and R-rated, claret spilling fight scenes.

Sources say Amanda Seyfried is in negotiations to play the lead role of Baby Doll, a young woman who has been committed to an insane asylum and fantasizes about escaping with the help of her fellow inmates, who take on fantastical roles in her mind.

Offers are out to a slew of young actresses to fill out those roles, along with Abbie they include Vanessa Hudgens, Evan Rachel Wood, and Emma Stone. The $100 million budgeted film for Warner Bros. is scheduled to begin production in the Fall. Says Snyder, who is also producing the film with his wife Deborah Snyder, “I already did the all-male cast with 300, so I’m doing the opposite end of the spectrum.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly