The team behind the UK TV hit Peep Show is gearing up to shoot its first feature, Magicians, which will start principalphotography in the UK on Aug 20.

The comedy is about a double act of magicians whofall out and become rivals years later. It will shoot on location in Surrey,London,Nottingham and Skegness.

Magicianswill be directed by Peep Showco-creator Andrew O'Connor, will be written by show writers Jesse Armstrong andSam Bain. The show's lead actors, David Mitchell and Robert Webb, will staralongside Jessica Stevenson, Darren Boyd, Peter Capaldi,Steve Edge and Andrea Riseborough.

Ollie Madden is producing for IntermediaFilm Equities, the UK-based subsidiary of Germany's IM Internationalmedia AG. Intermedia'spresident of production Scott Kroopf is executiveproducing.

The project is a co-production with UniversalPictures International, which has acquired all rights for UK, Germany, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand.

QED International is handling sales.

Backers include the UK Film Council's Premiere Fundand European Regional Development Funds through the screen agency EM Media. Thefilm has been developed and will be produced in co-operation with BreakoutFilms.

"It's great to see hot TV comedy writers successfullytransfer their skills to feature film," said Premiere Fund head Sally Caplan. "That is exactly what Sam Bain and Jesse Armstronghave done here, and Magicians is afantastically funny script. Their partnership with first-time director AndrewO'Connor gives rise to the exciting prospect of a very upbeat, humorouscinematic film from some of the best talent in UKtelevision."

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