The UK's Scala Productions has boarded English-language Spanish production The Seagull, in development at Barcelona start-up TSP.

Spaniard Enrique Gabriel (Fading Memories) will direct the "Mediterranean adaptation" of the Chekhov play, which was co-scripted by TSP founders Eva Baro and Antoni Sole. The $12m film is being prepped for a 2002 shoot.

LA-based Independent Artists (IA) has already pre-bought world rights excluding Spain as part of a five-year mutual first-look deal signed with TSP at Cannes in 2000.

Mike Nichols' stage adaptation of The Seagull made a splash at New York's Delacorte Theater this summer with stars Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Christopher Walken.

Scala recently presented its co-production Last Orders from director Fred Schepisi in the official competition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

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