Beacon Pictures is reteaming with Universal Pictures International (UPI) to sell one of its newest projects in international territories - The Palace Thief, a drama to star Kevin Kline and be directed by Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day, Soapdish). Per its long term domestic distribution deal, Universal Pictures will handle the film domestically.

Beacon and UPI had first worked together selling Tony Scott's epic thriller The Spy Game to international markets at London Screenings and MIFED last year. The film which stars Brad Pitt and Robert Redford is sold in most territories except France and Benelux, which are expected to close at AFM.

"There are certain valuable synergies in the fact that UPI is an arm of our domestic distribution partner," explained Tom Bliss, Beacon Pictures' chief operating officer. Bliss had previously enlisted the now defunct Buena Vista Film Sales to sell his films including 13 Days, Bring It On and The Family Man.

The Palace Thief was originally set up last year at Fine Line Features with Kline set to make his directorial debut on the film. Written by Neil Tolkin, the film is based on a short story by Ethan Canin about a prep school teacher who muses over his past 50 years of teaching. Bliss compared it to Dead Poets Society or Goodbye Mr Chips in tone.

Kline and Hoffman previously worked together on Soapdish and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Kline recently completed production on New Line's Life As A House directed by Irwin Winkler and co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas.