Los Angles-baseddistribution partners FirstLook Media and DEJ Productions have picked up worldwide rights to Wes Cravenproject The Breed, which stars Michelle Rodriguez and will be directedby Craven's longtime collaborator Nick Mastandrea.

First Look Media's sales arm First Look International will begin licensingterritories at Cannes next month. Principal photography is scheduled to beginon Apr 18 in South Africa and a US release has been tentatively set for fourthquarter 2005.

The Breed takes place on an island, where vacationers unknowinglybefriend a pack of genetically altered dogs. Taryn Manning, Oliver Hudson andHill Harper also star.

Craven will serve as executive producer with Hal Sadoff, and the producers areDavid Lancaster and Marianne Maddalena in conjunction with Apollo Media and theIDC in South Africa.

"Distributing a horror film produced by one of the most respected creators ofthe horror genre, Wes Craven, and his protege, Nick Mastandrea, is a greatopportunity for First Look and DEJ Productions," First Look Media presidentBill Lischak said in a statement. "The film is a perfect fit for ourdistribution partnership."

"The cast we're working with is exceptionally talented," Lancaster added. "AndMichelle's past experience as a beautiful yet tough girl is a perfect match toher strong-willed and sexy character in a Wes Craven/Nick Mastandreaproduction."

First Look International'sCannes slate includes Nisha Ganatra's romantic comedy Cake, which is targeting a world premiere spot on the Croisette and starsHeather Graham, Taye Diggs and Sandra Oh; Jonathan English's horror title Minotaurwith Rutger Hauer; and Gerry Lively's Dungeons And Dragons 2: TheElemental Might.

Last November First Look and DEJ, a distributor and wholly owned Blockbustersubsidiary, announced that they were combining sales and marketing teams onhome entertainment releases.

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