Veteran sales agent RobbieLittle has stepped in as executive producer on Closing The Ring, RichardAttenborough's epic love story.

Little is expected to tie upselected pre-sales at Cannes on the project, which now has an unconfirmed castincluding Dennis Hopper, Pete Postlethwaite, Mena Suvari, Shirley MacLaine andColin Hanks.

Shooting is scheduled forthis summer with financing coming from the UK Film Council's Premiere Fund, theNorthern Ireland Film & Television Commission's new equity fund and a UK saleand leaseback deal with Invicta. Gap financing comes from the Bank Of Ireland,the bank's first foray into Northern Ireland.

The project is set up as aUK-Canadian co-production with Remstar. Significantly, given the UKgovernment's recent crack down on minority co-productions, the UK is a 70%majority partner.

"For Richard that wasparticularly important, given his position in the industry," said producer JoGilbert.