UK and US-based film packager and financier, Intermedia, has struck an first-look deal with Nicolas Cage and Norm Golightly's Saturn Pictures, which is expected to cover two films per year in the $30m-$60m budget range.

Intermedia said that the exclusive two-year deal, which is currently at the detailed longform negotiation stage, will allow Saturn to develop a wide range of creative material for Cage and Golightly to produce. Intermedia will executive produce and handle worldwide distribution. Cage will appear in some, but not all, of the pictures they produce under the deal. Intermedia said that it would use "separate project financing" for the films, so that Intermedia's German parent company Internationalmedia would not have to seek additional capital.

In a statement Cage said: "Internationalmedia has not lost sight of their desire to make quality films despite their substantial financial resources."

Intermedia co-chairman Nigel Sinclair, said; "We feel fortunate to be able to participate in building Saturn as a great production company."

Since its merger with US-German film fund Pacifica and the flotation of Internationalmedia on German's Neuer Markt, Intermedia has struck similar deals with UK actress Kate Winslet and US producer Mark Johnson. It recently poached high profile US executive Jere Hausfater from Buena Vista Film Sales to advise on international distribution, marketing and acquisitions (Screendaily, July 27). The Saturn deal, however, was brokered by talent agency CAA.

Saturn's credits include Shadow Of The Vampire, about the making of F.W. Murnau's seminal vampire classic Nosferatu, which Cage produced with Jeff Levine. The film, which screened in Directors' Fortnight at this year's Cannes film festival, stars John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe and Catherine McCormack.