THINKFilm has moved in forall worldwide rights to Paul Dinello's Strangers With Candy and plans a limited summer release for the filmwhich is based on a cult TV series from US cable channel Comedy Central.

Warner Independent Pictureshad originally acquired domestic rights to the film at Sundance 2005, butreturned it to producers after issues over music clearance rights.

The story centres on a46-year-old former junkie (Amy Sedaris) who returns to school and discovers thestudents are tougher than anyone she encountered behind bars.

A prestigious cameo castincludes Oscar nominee Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Alison Janney, MatthewBroderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ian Holm.

The original series writersAmy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Dinello adapted the screenplay. Mark A Robertsproduced along with Worldwide Pants, while Colbertserved as co-producer.

"At this important stage ofour company's development, we were looking for a film that combined all of thebest qualities of Crash, BrokebackMountain, and Capote," THINKFilm's US theatrical chief Mark Urman joked.

"Strangers With Candy has ethnic slurs, clandestine gay sex, and PhillipSeymour Hoffman. What more could we want."

The deal was negotiated byRandy Manis, THINKFilm's executive vice president of acquisitions and businessaffairs, and CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.