Stephen Fry's EvelynWaugh adaptation Bright Young Things is expected to be one of the first projects to re-surface after theclosure of the UK's FilmFour.

The 1930s-set satire with JudiDench and Peter O'Toole is finalising a deal with Civilian Content, parent ofUK National Lottery franchise The Film Consortium, and the UK arm of Mel Gibsonand Bruce Davey's Icon Entertainment. Tax financier Vision View is also on board. The deal is understood to be still pendingapproval from the Film Council, the UK body which administers lottery funding.

The production fell foul of FilmFourparent Channel 4's shift in strategy to focus on low budget UK films madeprimarily for TV. The broadcaster folded stand alone film division FilmFourback into the main channel as part of the move.

Shooting is scheduled for theautumn through Revolution Films, the production company of producer AndrewEaton and director Michael Winterbottom. Fry is to make his directing debut onthe film, a self-penned adaptation of the book Vile Bodies. A Gosford Park-style ensemble cast of UK and US actors is still being firmed up.

"It'sessentially a story about night clubbing, drugs and drink and therefore hasnothing inconnection whatsoever to the modern age" Fry said when FilmFourunveiled the project at Cannes.