EXCLUSIVE: Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts to star in Alan Rickman’s sophomore directorial outing; Lionsgate UK to be main financier; shoot set for April.

Lionsgate has boarded UK and international rights to Alan Rickman’s upcoming period drama A Little Chaos. It was today announced that Rickman will also star alongside Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenaerts.

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Written by Allison Deegan, the film will tell the story of rival landscape gardeners who are both commissioned to create a fountain at Versailles by Louis XIV. Shoot is set for April.

Producers are Gail Egan, Andrea Calderwood and Bertrand Faivre and executive produced by Lionsgate UK’s Zygi Kamasa, the studio will act as the main financier of the film and co-produce alongside BBC Films and Lipsync. Ray Cooper, Christine Langan, Julia Taylor Stanley, Norman Merry will also executive produce.

Lionsgate UK will take UK rights and sell US rights, as they did on Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Lionsgate International will sell the remaining rights. Sales currently include Australia to Transmission who released The King’s Speech and Quartet.

Rickman said: “I am thrilled to be working with Zygi and his team at Lionsgate UK. Their passion for supporting British films and dedication to releasing them makes them the perfect partner to work with alongside a brilliant cast and crew. “

Zygi Kamasa, CEO of Lionsgate UK, said: “A Little Chaos is the perfect project to continue our increasing investment in British films following the success of titles such as Salmon Fishing In the Yemen this last year. 

“We are delighted to be working with the best of British actors and directors like Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman as we move forward in doubling our investment in British films in 2014 and releasing a fantastic slate of quality British titles for 2013.”

Lionsgate released five UK titles in 2012. Upcoming UK films include Hummingbird, Filth, The Invisible Woman, The Railway Man, A Long Way Down and Dom Hemingway. 2014/2015 sees a commitment to releasing seven-eight titles including Love Rosie starring Sam Clafin and Lily Collins.