Icon Entertainment International has boarded Romance & Cigarettes, a darkly comic musical starring Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini and Susan Sarandon, directed by John Turturro and executive produced by the Coen brothers.

MGM/UA will release the film - the latest musical offered on the Croisette after Phantom Of The Opera and Pride & Prejudice: The Bollywood Musical - in North American, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Latin America. Filming is to start late autumn.

Turturro, who wrote the story of a man's journey into infidelity and redemption, said: "It's a story which has something for everyone and which encompasses all of the elements that audiences, including myself love - comedy, drama, wonderful music and dance."

Icon is handling sales in the rest of the world, with Icon Film Distribution releasing in the UK. John Penotti of Greenestreet Films is producing, with Icon's Bruce Davey and Janus Films' Jana Edelbaum executive producing with the Coens.

"It's a stunningly original screenplay," said Nick Hill, chief executive of the Icon UK group.