EXCLUSIVE: Clive Owen will star in the Parts & Labor drama about a disillusioned college professor reinvigorated by a gifted writing student. K5 has commenced talks with international buyers at the EFM.

Richard Levine will direct and New York-based Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy of Parts & Labor will serve as producers. CAA represents North American rights.

Levine wrote the screenplay based on Francine Prose’s bestselling novel.

“Clive Owen is the perfect fit for this brilliant role playing a smart and cynical guy who should know better, finding himself hopelessly caught between seduction and manipulation,” said K5 Founders Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur.

“There’s an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia and tension in this story – we really feel the guilt of this man slowly suffocating him,” said K5 partner Carl Clifton. “It makes for totally compelling cinema.”

Baur negotiated the deal on behalf of K5 International with David Fox on behalf of the film-makers.

CAA represents Owen, Levine and Prose are represented by CAA. Rose is also represented by the Denise Shannon Literary Agency.