UK distributor Optimum Releasing has picked up Shane Meadows' new untitled feature, which started shooting this week in the North of England.

The film, which stars and is co-written by long-time Meadows collaborator Paddy Considine, has no set script and was developed through a series of rehearsals and improvisations.

The film, shooting on super-16mm with DoP Danny Cohen, is billed as a genre-busting tale of vengeance. "I wanted to work with Shane for a long time," said Optimum's Will Clarke, who acquired the film from a treatment and takes an executive producer credit. "The idea of the film is fantastic, and it has been improvised and work-shopped."

"The story is constantly evolving," said producer Mark Herbert. "You cast someone in rehearsals and they bring something new out." The film marks the first production from the new FilmFour production team, headed by Tessa Ross, and is produced by Warp Films, the film offshoot of Warp Records. Co-financier is East Midlands Media Investments.

Warp, headed by producer Mark Herbert, won a Bafta earlier this year for its short film My Wrongs 8245-8249 And 117, which starred Considine and was directed by controversial satirist Chris Morris.

The company is currently developing film projects with award-winning director Chris Cunningham, actor/filmmaker Asia Argento and Jarvis Cocker.