Newly-formed Vancouver-based development and production company IrreverentMedia is preparing to begin shooting in spring on its first feature, the suburbanmockumentary Gay Like Me.

THINKFilm has acquiredCanadian rights on the $3.4m project, which was developed with the support of BCFilm and Movie Central. The producers expect to close out financing in Berlin.

Michael Madsen is attached to play the lead in the project, whichfollows a social worker and his filmmaker boyfriend as they team up to profilea petty hate crime offender.

MichaelRosenbaum, Hugh Dillon, Sonja Bennett, Maury Chaykin and Brendan Fletcher roundout the key cast.

Bruce McDonald will direct from a screenplay by Vancouver-based MichaelP Northey.

The company isalso in development on the 19th century Canada-European horror story TheLight House, and theMiddle East-set romance Gitmek.