Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group and UK and US-based Winchester Films have taken over New Best Friend, the college-age drama which was originally on MGM's slate for the US.

Columbia has taken North and Latin American and Asian rights excluding Japan and Korea on the picture, formerly known as Mary Jane's Last Dance. Winchester is handling the remaining international rights.

The $8m film, produced by Frank Mancuso Jr, became available when Chris McGurk took over at the studio from Frank Mancuso Sr. The picture has a hot ensemble cast including Dominique Swain, Taye Diggs, Mia Kirshner, Meredith Monroe, Oliver Hudson and Scott Bairstow. The director is Zoe Clarke-Williams.

Set at an exclusive university, it tells the story of a police investigation into the lifestyle of four girls when one falls into a coma.