DirectorJames Huth will begin shooting comedy Brice De Nice in mid-April in Nice and Biarritz.The film is based on a character created by comedian Jean Dujardin who hasbecome something of a cult figure in France in recent years.

Brice DeNice is a hapless surfer - he can barely even swim - in search ofthe perfect wave. The problem is, he's waiting for the wave in Nice wherethe ocean "is the flattest in the world," laughs director Huth whotells ScreenDaily.com, "Jean invented this character as part of his stand up routineand realised later on that teenagers had created unofficial websites devoted tohim. His sayings have become catchphrases for kids." Huth likens Brice toInspector Clouseau or Austin Powers.

The filmwill be produced by Mandarin Films who also produced the smash hit comedy JetSet in 2000 and itsupcoming sequel.

With ascript written by Dujardin, Karine Angeli and Huth, the film stars Dujardin,Clovis Cornillac, Alexandra Lamy and Bruno Salomone. Budget details were notimmediately available.

Huth, whoselast film Serial Lover was a hit on festival circuits in 1998, recently produced sleeperhorror flick Dead End and has been in development on an adaptation of the Blake and Mortimercomic book series, La Marque Jaune. Despite a long gestation period, that film, produced byCharles Gassot, should begin shooting later this year.