Easily the most acquisitive of domestic distribuors at present, Lions Gate Releasing has bought US rights to romantic comedy The Whole Shebang from David Kirkpatrick's Original Voices Inc. The film, directed by George Zaloom and starring Stanley Tucci and Bridget Fonda, is the first from Kirkpatrick's new venture which is part-financed by Germany's Intertainment AG. International sales are handled by 2K Media.

Tucci plays an Italian summoned to work in his family's fireworks factory in America who falls in love with his cousin's widow (Fonda). Talia Shire and Giancarlo Giannini co-star.

The deal was negotiated by Lions Gate Releasing co-president Tom Ortenberg and vice president of acquisitions Randy Manis with Kirkpatrick and Michael Pripus on behalf of Original Voices.

The film joins Lions Gate swelling release slate for 2001 which includes James Ivory's The Golden Bowl, Ken Loach's Bread And Roses, Patrice Leconte's The Widow Of St Pierre, Kathryn Bigelow's The Weight Of Water and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's Amores Perros.