KatapultFilms, the Los Angeles-based sales agency headed by Thomas Mai and JoniSighvatsson, is to handle international duties on Blackbook, the newfilm by Dutch master Paul Verhoeven.

The project has been a hot property forseveral months as rumours have swirled as to which of many possible projectsVerhoeven will shoot first. The action thriller was also the centre of a bidbattle between several sales companies.

The 1944-45 story is that of a Jewishgirl who infiltrates the Nazi networks and will be Verhoeven's first Europeanpicture for over 20 years. It will shoot in Dutch, German and English with award-winningactress Carice van Houten in the starring role.

Blackbookis produced by San Fu Maltha's FuWorks and his A Film Distribution will handleits Benelux release. Katapult is understood to be in active negotiations onhalf a dozen territory deals and a deal with the UK's Tartan Films could seeTartan board as co-producer and springboard for a UK sale & leaseback deal.Other finance is to come from the Dutch CoBo-Fund, the film fund and a tax fundthat FuWorks is now structuring.

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