Paramount Classics, thespecialty arm of Paramount Pictures, is in final negotiations to buy NorthAmerican and select other territorial rights to Roger Michell's next film EnduringLove from Pathe International.

Starring Daniel Craig,Samantha Morton and Rhys Ifans, the film is an adaptation of the Ian McEwanbestseller about the obsession that develops by one man for another after atragic ballooning accident.

The film is produced byKevin Loader and Michell through their Free Range Films and financed by PathePictures, Inside Track, FilmFour, Ingenious Media and the UK Film Council.Pathe Distribution is handling UK rights, while Pathe International is sellingit. Shooting started in mid-September.

The deal is yet another UKfilm acquisition for Paramount Classics which is also set to release MikeHodges' I'll Sleep When I'm Deadand Paul McGuigan's The Reckoning in2004.

Sony Pictures Classics is scheduled to release Michell's The Mother in North America on May 28 next year.

Executive producers on EnduringLove are Francois Ivernel andCameron McCracken of Pathe. Joe Penhall (Some Voices) wrote the screenplay.