“De Niro, Weaver dig ‘Buried’ director”
Helmer Rodrigo Cortes to lense ‘Red Lights’ in February
Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver are attached to star in psychological thriller “Red Lights,” Spanish director Rodrigo Cortes’ follow-up to “Buried.”
“Lights” turns on a psychologist, played by Weaver, and her assistant whose study of paranormal activity leads them to investigate a world- renowned psychic (De Niro).
From an original screenplay by Cortes, “Lights” will be produced by Adrian Guerra through his Barcelona-based Versus Entertainment. Cortes will also produce.
“Red Lights” is financed by Versus, L.A.-based Parlay Films, and new production and finance company CSe Entertainment, run by Cindy Cowan and Soo Mi Kim, in association with Korea’s Blue Storm Prods.
Parlay has acquired international rights outside Spain and South Korea. Parlay head Lisa Wilson, Cowan, and Blue Storm’s Y.K. Bae will serve as exec producers.
UTA’s Independent Film Group, which helped package the film, will rep domestic distribution.
Set in an unidentified big U.S. city, “Lights” is skedded to start production February, lensing seven weeks in Spain and two in Canada, Guerra said.
Versus also produced Ryan Reynolds-starrer “Buried,” which was picked up at the Sundance fest by Lionsgate and released in the U.S. late last month.
” ‘Red Lights’ follows the steps of ‘Buried’ in allowing us to make a highly commercial, bold and compelling film with great production values and Hollywood stars but keeping the creative control from Spain,” Guerra said.
Parlay will commence sales on “Red Lights” at November’s American Film Market.
Cortes is “a major, major talent. In ‘Buried,’ what he was able to do with a minor budget, one actor and a box was extraordinary,” said Wilson.
De Niro will next be seen in “Little Fockers” for Universal. Weaver is currently shooting Amy Heckerling’s “Vamps,” playing opposite Alicia Silverstone.
UTA’s Independent Film Group and Versus structured the financing for “Red Lights.” Rena Ronson and Jim Meenaghan at UTA’s Independent Film Group negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
By EMILIANO DE PABLOS, JOHN HOPEWELL
