In a sevenfigure deal, Wild Bunch distribution arm Pan Europeennehas acquired all French rights to James Gray's upcoming We Own The Night.

JoaquinPhoenix stars as a nightclub manager in 1980s Queens who falls foul of his policeofficer brother played by Mark Wahlberg just as theRussian mafia are taking control of the club scene, sparking a war inside the New York police department.

Both actorsappeared in Gray's last film, The Yards(2000). Christopher Walken and Eva Mendes were alsoconfirmed on the title earlier this week. Walken, plays the father and Mendes is Phoenix's love interest.

The filmbegins shooting in New York on March 15 and should be ready by February next year. It is produced by NickWechsler, Marc Butan, Phoenix and Wahlberg.Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban are executive producers. Their 2929 Entertainment ishandling international sales on the film.

Pan Europeenne's Jean-Philippe Tireltold Screendaily.com, "We are really excited about this film from a director werevere and about working with 2929, a company we hope to continue to work within the future." We Own TheNight is scheduled to be ready by February 2007.