UK production outfit Natural Nylon has boarded Richard Kwietniowski's Owning Mahowny, currently shooting in Canada, as UK co-production partner. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver and John Hurt, the drama is now a UK/Canada co production between H20 Motion Pictures (Canada), Alliance Atlantis (Canada) and Natural Nylon (UK). Producers are Andras Hamori of H20 and Seaton McLean, president of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Production.

Although Natural Nylon's three year development and production deal with Alliance Atlantis expired earlier this year, the two companies are maintaining a close relationship and still have existing projects in development including Marlowe and White Clouds, both with Hamori producing. Owning Mahowny was never part of the original deal, but Natural Nylon head Damon Bryant was familiar with the project and has a close relationship with Hamori. Hamori's H20 has a longterm co-production arrangement with Alliance Atlantis.

The film is a black comedy based on a true story about a mild-mannered bank manager who quietly embezzled millions to feed his gambling habit.

McLean announced the casting of Hurt, who had the lead role in Kwietniowski's first film, the critically acclaimed Love And Death On Long Island.

Natural Nylon is the London-based production company in which some of the UK's leading actors have ownership stakes - Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee and Sadie Frost among them.