Square One has taken German rights to crime-drama starring Ray Winstone and Ben Drew.

Entertainment One has picked up UK rights to Vertigo Films-Embargo Films coproduction The Sweeney, which starts shooting in London this Sunday [30].

A German deal was done with with Square One.

The feature adaptation of cult 1970s TV Show The Sweeney about a hardened detective in the Flying Squad of London’s Metropolitan police is co-written by director Nick Love (The Firm) and John Hodge (Trainspotting).

Ray Winstone plays Flying Squad detective Jack Regan and singer/actor Ben Drew (aka Plan B) plays George Carter. Hayley Atwell (Captain America), Damien Lewis (The Escapist), Steven Mackintosh (Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans) and Paul Anderson (The Firm) also star.

The deal was negotiated by Alex Hamilton, director of Entertainment One UK and Vertigo’s MD Rupert Preston.

The film is set for an Autumn 2012 release. Producers are Allan Niblo, James Richardson, Rupert Preston for Vertigo Films and Christopher Simon and Felix Vossen for Embargo Films.

Protagonist handles world sales and will be talking to buyers at next week’s AFM.