Italian production company Just Us Production will team with Canada's Caramel Films Production on a $10.8m (Euros 8.5m) English language Italy-Canada co-production.

Based on a true-life death penalty story, the film has the working title Just Us Derek Rocco Barnabei. It will shoot in both Tuscany and Canada from July 30.

Just Us Derek Rocco Barnabei is based on an original script by Manuela Procaccia with Ago Panini (Waiting For The Sun) attached to direct.

The North American cast is still being finalised, however Just Us producer Marco Scaffardi told ScreenDaily that John Goodman is in negotiations for the role of the US investigator who tried to prove Barnabei's innocence, although Goodman is currently tied up with schedule commitments.

Italian Claudio Santamaria will take the role of Derek Rocco Barnabei who was from Virginia but of Italian descent. Barnabei was put to death in 2000 for the murder of his girlfriend although he always protested his innocence.

The remaining Italian cast includes Raoul Bova in the role of journalist Alessandro Milan whose phone conversations with jailed Barnabei were broadcast on Italian radio.

Laura Morante will play a New York based Corriere della Sera reporter and Pierfrancesco Favino will appear in a cameo role.