First Look Media hasacquired all North American rights to Ray McKinnon's southern gothic tale Chrystal, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Lisa Blount, HarryDean Stanton and Ray McKinnon and plans an April 2005 theatrical release.

Thornton stars as a man whoreturns home 16 years after an accident that resulted in his son's death andpermanently injured his wife, with the hope of attaining her forgiveness.

Blount, Goggins, BruceHeller, McKinnon, Walton Goggins and David Koplan produced and Peter E Straussserved as executive producer.

The deal was negotiated byFirst Look's acquisitions vice president Peter Lawson and Cinetic Media's MicahGreen.

"Chrystal is a very poignant story that highlights thedeeply-rooted and rich cultures of the American southern gothic, which arebrought to life by the talented Academy Award winners, Billy Bob Thornton anddirector Ray McKinnon," First Look Media's president and chief operatingofficer Bill Lischak said in a statement.