IconFilm Distribution and Warner Home Video have teamed up to acquire theatricaland home video rights respectively in the UK and Australia/New Zealand for HBOFilms' star-laden The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers.

BBCFilms had already secured all UK television rights to the film, which wrappedin London recently and stars Geoffrey Rush as the turbulent British comedicactor synonymous with the Pink Panther series and films like Dr Strangelove and Being There.

Appearingalongside Rush are Charlize Theron, John Lithgow, Miriam Margolyes, StephenFry, Stanley Tucci and Emily Watson.

StephenHopkins, whose credits include Under Suspicion and The Ghost And The Darkness, directed the adaptation from the eponymous book byRoger Lewis.

"Iconand Warner Home Video recognise that audiences in the UK and Australia willembrace this portrayal of both the eccentricities and genius of Peter Sellers,"Penny Wolf and Rosa Bosch, managing directors of HBO Films London, said in ajoint statement.

"Wehave been huge fans of this project since reading the script," Nick Hill, chiefexecutive officer of Icon Films UK added. "The structure of the deal alsoallows us to develop even stronger ties with our partners at Warner Home Videoand BBC Films."

The Life And Death OfPeter Sellers is expected to open intheatres in 2004.