Lions Gate Films has pickedup all North American rights to Andrew Niccol's action thriller Lord Of War, which stars Nic Cage, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahanand Ethan Hawke.

The picture, currently in post-production, centres on an arms dealer whoreevaluates his purpose in life while on the run from an Interpol agent.

Philippe Rousselet and Andrew Niccol's company Entertainment ManufacturingCompany financed the project with Germany's VIP fund. Arclight Films is handinginternational sales at Cannes next month.

Niccol, Rousselet, Cage, Norm Golightly, Andreas Grosch, and Chris Robertsproduced.

Lions Gate Entertainment's president of acquisitions and co-productions PeterBlock, senior vice president of acquisitions Jason Constantine, and Lions GateFilms Releasing president Tom Ortenberg negotiated the deal with Rousselet andCAA's Manny Nunez.

"Andrew has crafted a powerful and provocative film torn from today'sheadlines, giving audiences a chilling insider's look into the internationalworld of gunrunning," Lions Gate Entertainment chief executive officer Jon Feltheimersaid in a statement.

"Lions Gate Films has proven their ability to take controversial,button-pushing material and make it part of the national conversation," Cageadded in a statement.