Italian heartthrob Adriano Giannini (Swept Away) and Argentina's Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) are set to star for the Taviani brothers in Luisa Sanfelice, an ambitious Italian feature film and miniseries, Rome-based producer Cattleya announced in Berlin.

Originally planned only as a miniseries, Cattleya, which is producing for Germany's Victory Media, says the feature film will now be extracted first for theatrical release. The story is based on the Alexandre Dumas novel set in early 19th century Naples. Shooting gets underway in March. The miniseries will air on RAI and France 2.

Luisa is just one project on a new seven-title slate from Cattleya, co-producers of buzz competition film I Am Not Afraid (Io Non Ho Paura), Cattleya's Marco Chimenz says in 2003 the company is catching up from a less productive year last year but the objective is to make an average five films per year.

Goran Paskaljevic (How Harry Became A Tree) is currently adapting another book from Afraid author Niccolo Ammaniti, Ti Prendo E Ti Porto Via (literally, 'I take you and I carry you away'), to direct this year. Cattleya is also in talks to back an English-language foray from Afraid director Gabriele Salvatores.

Other projects include:
Paolo Virzi's comedy Catherine Goes To The City (Caterina Va In Citta), shooting this week with Sergio Castellito (Mostly Martha) starring;
romantic drama Don't Move (Non Ti Muovere), based on the book by Margaret Mazzantini, which Castellito will co-script, direct and star in;
serial killer thriller Crystal Eyes (Occhi Di Cristallo) from director Eros Puglielli;
Michele Placido's New Life (La Vita Nuova);
Cristina Comencini's Clara Schumann biopic My Right Hand;
Newcomer Luca Lucini's Three Steps Above Heaven (Tre Metri Sobra Al Cielo);
And two long-simmering remakes, of Groundhog Day and Spanish comedy Cha Cha Cha.

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