MDP to take ‘Dahlia’ global Pic based on book by 'L.A Confidential' scribe (Variety)
		By BENEDICT CARVER, February 27, 1998 Mark Damon’s MDP Worldwide is in serious negotiations to handle international sales on David Fincher’s forthcoming noir thriller “The Black Dahlia,” based on the book by “L.A. Confidential” writer James Ellroy. As reported, “Dahlia” will be a co-production between Rudy Cohen’s April Prods. and Moshe Diamant’s Signature Entertainment (Daily Variety, Feb. 26). Although no deal is done, sources said that MDP is a likely home for the film given the close association between Damon and Diamant, who have worked together on a number of Jean Claude Van Damme actioners such as “Knock Off” and “The Quest.” Signature will likely co-distribute the film internationally with MDP, sources said. Domestic distribution is not yet set, although Signature has a first-look deal with Columbia Pictures. Ellroy based “Dahlia” on the true story of the murder of Elizabeth Short in the 1940s. In the book, two cops become obsessed with solving her murder, leading to their own day of reckoning. Fincher is currently attached to develop the project, with a view to directing it after he completes Fox 2000’s “Fight Club,” which has Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Courtney Love in talks to star. Another new project on MDP’s slate at the AFM is “Agarta Universe,” a joint venture with Art + Technic Holland and Sinagpore-based Ultrapolis 3000 Theme Park Investments. The fantasy adventure is a spin-off from the Agarta Universe theme park currently under construction in Malaysia. MDP is in pre-production on the forthcoming sci-fi actioner “Progenitor,” which is being produced by Peter Hoffman’s Seven Arts Pictures and written and directed by Patrick Reed Johnson. Patrick Swayze, Burt Reynolds and Tom Berenger are in discussions to star, sources said.

Contactez nous