Icon has boughtAustralian and New Zealand rights from PathePictures International for director Stephen Frears' The Queen, which is in its third week offilming.

The Queen tracks the UK aftermath of the dramatic death ofPrincess Diana in a car accident in Paris, including the actions of the shocked anddisbelieving British public, the royal family in crisis, and the popular andnewly elected Prime Minister.

It stars Oscarnominee Helen Mirren (Gosford Park,Calendar Girls) as QueenElizabeth II, Michael Sheen (The Banker,Underworld) as Tony Blair and James Cromwell (I, Robot, The Green Mile, LA Confidential)as Prince Philip.

The GranadaFilms/Pathe Pictures production is written by PeterMorgan and produced by Andy Harries, Christine Lagan and Tracey Seaward. Pathe Distribution is the distributor in the UK and France.

"The events ofAugust 1997 and the fascination the Australian public has with the BritishRoyal Family will no doubt make this acquisition one of the most talked aboutmovie releases for 2006," said Icon's Australian ceoMark Gooder, who anticipates a fourth quarter 2006release.

Frears' previous films include My Beautiful Laundrette,Dangerous Liaisons, The Grafters, High Fidelity DirtyPretty Things and most recently Mrs Henderson Presents.