Pathe's French production subsidiary Renn Productions is developing two English-language titles - The Deputy, to be directed by Costa-Gavras, and a cinematic version of Cinderella, to be directed by Bruno Aveillon.

The Deputy is an adaptation of a novel by Rolf Hochhuth, scheduled to start shooting in February 2001. The film will be Costa-Gavras' first since Mad City in 1997.

Renn's Claude Berri previously produced three English-language films, Roman Polanski's Tess (1979), Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Bear (1988) and, most recently, Michel Blanc's The Escort. He is currently busy preparing the second installment in the Asterix series - Au Service De Cleopatre - to be directed by Alain Chabat. Cleopatra will be Chabat's second directorial project after hit comedy Didier, also produced by Berri. He will direct himself as Cesar. The role of Cleopatra has yet to be cast .

Pathe International, which only recently launched into theatrical sales, is selling competition title, Olivier Assayas' period saga Les Destinees Sentimentales, headlining Emmanuelle Beart and Charles Berling and produced by another of Pathe's French production outfits, Arena Films.