Lionsgate International is handling foreign sales on the adaptation of Carolyn Parkhurst’s bittersweet novel of love and loss for Mandate Pictures.

Jamie Linden adapted the screenplay about a linguistics professor who finds his wife dead in the garden and attempts to teach his dog - the sole witness to the tragic accident - to speak in an effort to learn more about the death.

David Heyman of Heyday Films, Corey May and Dooma Wendschuh of sekretagent Productions will produce alongside Carell through his Carousel Productions. Mandate president Nathan Kahane will serve as executive producer. 

New president of Heyday Films Jeffrey Clifford will oversee the project for Heyday and Nicole Brown will do so on behalf of Mandate.

Mandate’s svp of business affairs Dan Freedman negotiated the deals for the company.