Colin Firth will star in Genius while Catherine Deneuve will play the lead in Robert Cantarella’s debut feature.

Firth will star alongside Michael Fassbender in the adaptation of Andrew Scott Berg’s biography Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, which is looking at the real-life relationship between author Thomas Wolfe and editor Max Perkins. John Logan wrote the screenplay for Genius and the drama will be directed by Michael Grandage. James Bierman is producing for the Michael Grandage Company. Shooting is scheduled for early 2014 and FilmNation is handling international sales.

For more new films and the most recent production and financing updates visit

Robert Cantarella will make his directorial debut with an as-yet-untitled romantic drama, which will star Catherine Deneuve as a retired divorcee who decides to break away from her tranquil existence in Brussels and start a new life in Los Angeles, where she embarks on a passionate relationship with another man. Harvey Keitel will play the male lead. The $5m film is a German-French co-production between Cine Plus and Les Films D’Ici with Charlotte Uzu producing. Shooting is planned for autumn 2013 and Haut et Court will release across France.