New York-based Plum Pictures has picked up rights to the lifestory of Andrew Wiles, the mathematical genius who solved Fermat's LastTheorem, the world's most bafflingmathematical mystery that remained unsolved for more than 300 years.

Fermatwas a recluse and one of the great mathematical theorists of the 17th century who scribbled a tantalisingnote in one of his books in 1637 in which he claimed to have solved acelebrated number theory problem without revealing the answer.

The Princeton-based Wiles solved the riddle in 1995, ending alifelong personal obsession that had defeated hundreds of professional andamateur mathematicians alike. The story will chronicle the centuries of failedattempts but focus mainly on Wiles.

Plum Pictures was formed in 2003 by Celine Rattray, GaltNiederhoffer and Daniela TaplinLundberg, and is backed by entrepreneur Reagan Silber.

The company recently produced Steve Buscemi's drama LonesomeJim, which premiered in competition at Sundance,and Michael Showalter's romanticcomedy The Baxter, starring Michelle Williams, Elizabeth Banks, Justin Theroux,Paul Rudd and Showalter, which IFC Films will release in August.

Plum iscurrently in post production on Nanda Anand's Rajapur, an epic drama with romantic elements about a mysterious land starring LynnCollins, Kelli Garner, JustinTheroux, Jason Lewis and Frank Langella.