Lions Gate Films has pickedup US rights to Jim Isaac's werewolf project Skinwalkers, while Lions Gate International has acquired allinternational rights except Germany and will commence sales at Cannes thisweek.

The film is set to go intoproduction in early autumn for a wide North American release in 2006, and marksthe company's first collaboration with Germany's Constantin Film.

Skinwalkers centres on a 12-year-old boy who finds himself at thecentre of a battle between two warring groups of werewolves, one of which issworn to protect him while the other wants him dead.

The project is beingproduced by Constantin and DCP Mystery with Don Carmody and Dennis Berardi ofRed Moon Films, effects house Mr X, Robert Kulzer, effects legend Stan Winstonand Brian Gilbert.

Lions Gate president ofacquisitions and co-productions Peter Block and senior vice president ofacquisitions Jason Constantine will oversee production for Lions Gate Films.

Block, Constantine, andsenior vice president of business and legal affairs and acquisitions WendyJaffe negotiated the deal with Constantin Los Angeles co-presidents MartinMoszkowicz and Robert Kulzer and executive vice president of business and legalaffairs Marsha Metz.