USA greenlights Who Goes There'

USA Films has greenlit Who Goes There', the first production it is bankrolling from its three-year deal with Charles Finch and Luc Roeg's London-based company Artists Independent Network (AIN).

The film is to be directed by AIN client Ben Ross (RKO 281, The Young Poisoner's Handbook) and to star Jamie Bell in the youngster's first feature since low-budget UK hit Billy Elliot.

A World War II drama, Who Goes There' is the story of a German U-boat crew which takes a group of prisoners hostage after mistakenly putting ashore in Wales. Bell will play a Welsh boy who develops a friendship with one of the crew.

AIN was founded over a year ago with USA handling domestic distribution

and StudioCanal, which has since been merged with Universal Pictures, handling international sales. A deal for international sales on Who Goes There' is pending.