The German arm of US major Warner Bros has picked up Niki Muellerschoen's $23.3m (Euros 18m) English-language production The Red Baron for release in Germany this autumn.

Billed as Germany's most expensive new production in 2006 and one of the most lavish in German history, The Red Baron stars up-and-coming German actor Matthias Schweighoefer in the role of the legendary WWI fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen. The cast also features Lena Headey, Joseph Fiennes, Til Schweiger and Axel Prahl.

The financing for the film, which shot in and around Prague between July and October 2006, came from private individuals living in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and was raised by the Stuttgart-based film financing and production house Niama Film, which was established by director Muellerschoen with partners Thomas Reisser, Roland Pellegrino and Dan Maag.

The film's sales agent HanWay Films will be presenting The Red Baron - which is currently in the final stages of post-production - at the European Film Market in Berlin.