Mike Leigh plans new pic

The 'Vera Drake' helmer will start casting in April, with filming set to take place early next year.

Feb 10 2006

National treasure Mike Leigh is soon to start work on an as yet untitled new project.

The 'Vera Drake' director has announced plans to cast in April, rehearse in autumn and shoot next spring, with the intention of getting the film into theatres before Christmas 2007.

As is usual with Leigh's projects however, nothing is known about the story at this time, with much of the script coming together during the rehearsal period.

Indeed, even Leigh's long-time producer Simon Channing Williams is in the dark: 'It's simply another Mike Leigh film,' he told Screen Daily. 'Beyond that, until the casting process starts and we see what mix of cast is available for Mike to work with, we won't begin to have an idea of what it's going to be about.'

Knowing Leigh however, I doubt it will be an action pic. And if it's a comedy, I think we can safely say it won't be 'screwball'.

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