Company

The conflict between King Henry II and Thomas Becket is planning a return to the stage, with a potential new film version in the wings.

Smuggler Films has acquired live stage and film rights to Jean Anouilh's 1960 play "Becket" and enlisted translator and playwright Ranjit Bolt to pen a new adaptation.

The play centers on Becket, who was appointed by his friend Henry II as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 then ultimately sided with the church against the crown.

The play's original Broadway production in 1960 won four Tonys, including best play. Its 1964 film adaptation, starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, went on to earn 12 Academy Award nominations, winning Edward Anhalt the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.

Bolt, nephew of screenwriter Robert Bolt, has translated a number of French plays for productions at Britain's Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He described "Becket" as "the tragedy of a great friendship turning tragically and epoch-makingly sour."

Smuggler is headed by producers John N. Hart, Brian Carmody and Patrick Milling Smith.

John N Hart, Brian Carmody and Patrick Milling Smith's Smuggler Films has acquired the live stage and feature remake rights to Jean Anouilh‘s 1960 play Becket.

Playwright Ranjit Bolt will write the new adaptation, based on the story of the twelfth century Archbishop Of Canterbury who enraged King Henry II when he declared fealty to God over the king. The play was originally produced in London and starred Christopher Plummer and Eric Porter under the direction of Peter Hall, ultimately relocating to Broadway where it starred Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn in alternate roles.

Becket was adapted into a film in 1964 starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole and went on to earn 12 Academy Award nominations, winning for best adapted screenplay.

"What distinguishes [Anouilh's plays] are a piercing, cynical wit and intelligence," Bolt said. "In Becket, alongside the tragedy of a great friendship turning tragically, and epoch-makingly sour, Anouilh brings these trademark qualities to bear once more, this time in the service of an acute examination of an age-old theme: the clash of egos in power politics."

"Becket's themes of devotion and betrayal of two men in the prime of their lives are arresting," Hart said. "Anouilh has a unique sense of humour that other translations of Becket haven't quite captured.

"Also, Anouilh understood the muscularity of these two men very much shaped by the brutality of their time when England was just emerging as a nation State. Ranjit Bolt is uniquely qualified having translated countless French classics including other works of Anouilh."

Smuggler Films, the new production outfit run by Brian Carmody, John N. Hart and Patrick Milling Smith, is to remake French thriller Rapt which tells the story of the 1978 kidnapping of Baron Edouard-Jean Empain, heir to the Empain Schneider dynasty. The US version will be retitled Abduction.

The French film, which has been nominated for a best film Cesar, is directed by Lucas Belvaux and stars Yvan Attal.

"Rapt is a high stakes thriller propelled by multiple agendas that could not be more timely. It has it all: kidnapping, mistresses, the avarice of corporate culture and the tabloid exposure of a family living a lie. Lucas Belvaux's original is a film that does not take the easy route with any of its narratives and unflinchingly honest characters and we are left the richer for that," said Milling Smith in a statement.

Smuggler has in development a film of the novel The White Tiger which Hanif Kureishi will adapt as well as a film of The Princess' Gangster to be written by Louis Mellis.

Smuggler Films has picked up remake rights to the 2009 French thriller "Rapt," about the 1978 kidnapping of Baron Edouard-Jean Empain, a French CEO and heir to the Empain Schneider Dynasty.

Smuggler is planning on mounting an American version called "Abduction."

Released in France last fall, "Rapt" has been nominated for a Cesar Award for best picture.

"'Rapt' is a high stakes thriller propelled by multiple agendas that could not be more timely. It has it all: kidnapping, mistresses, the avarice of corporate culture and the tabloid exposure of a family living a lie. Lucas Belvaux's original is a film that does not take the easy route with any of its narratives and unflinchingly honest characters and we are left the richer for that," Patrick Milling Smith, co-founder of Smuggler Films, said.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Robert Evans has long been good theater. Now comes the actual stage play.

Having been involved with pictures as grand as "The Godfather," as troubled as "The Cotton Club" and as self-referential as the documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture," which chronicled his checkered film career, Mr. Evans is becoming the subject of a play. It is currently being written, and producers hope it will make its Broadway debut in the next year.

Jon Robin Baitz, whose credits include "The Substance of Fire" and "Ten Unknowns," is working on the play. (Mr. Baitz's newest play, "Love and Mercy," will make its Broadway debut during the 2010-11 season. Arts, Briefly, Page 2.) The director is Richard Eyre, whose revival of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" opened in England on Wednesday. Among its producers is John N. Hart Jr., a Tony winner for best production, including "Chicago."

Mr. Evans, for his part, is supplying the drama.

"It begins with me dying," Mr. Evans said on Tuesday. He was speaking of "The Fat Lady Sang," his unpublished second memoir that Mr. Baitz is melding with material from Mr. Evans's previous book, "The Kid Stays in the Picture," published in 1994, to create a story that Mr. Evans hopes will be inspirational — at least for those who may be inspired by the tale of a movie producer's ferocious tenacity.

On May 6, 1998, Mr. Evans suffered a stroke, one in a series that left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak. Sumner Redstone, the media mogul, sat by his bedside and ordered him to fight. The agent Jeff Berg pushed him to work on his speech "or wind up living in Palm Springs."

After much therapy Mr. Evans is now tanned, articulate and, at 79, determined to play his assigned role as Hollywood's glorious survivor.

"I wanted to get back. I got back," Mr. Evans shouted from a sofa in the memorabilia-filled, Woodland Drive bungalow that, according to Mr. Hart, will be as much a character in the play as the Hollywood gallery that has surrounded its owner.

The first stroke, Mr. Evans said, occurred as he was raising a glass to toast the horror master Wes Craven over dinner in the Woodland Drive house. Days later he would see the dead Frank Sinatra being wheeled from a room just two doors from his own in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The image triggered memories of a past in which Sinatra surprised Mia Farrow with divorce papers while she was starring in "Rosemary's Baby" for Mr. Evans, then a Paramount executive.

Mr. Hart said such encounters will be the grist for Mr. Baitz's play, which will be something broader than a one-man show, for a cast that has not been announced.

"There are a number of actors who have the chops to do it, and have the appetite, having come across Robert Evans in their working lives," Mr. Eyre said by telephone on Wednesday. He added that Mr. Evans's tale "has something of Don Quixote about it, Don Quixote and Casanova. It's very alluring as a project, the story is magnificent, and almost absurd at the same time."

Mr. Evans, who was discovered a half-century ago by the actress Norma Shearer while poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel, had a brief acting career before morphing into one of Hollywood's more colorful producers. He rose to head of production at Paramount during a golden era at that studio and was a regular in the gossip pages: he was married seven times, including to a former Miss America, Phyllis George, and the actresses Camilla Sparv, Ali MacGraw and Catherine Oxenberg.

The Evans project is among the first from Smuggler Films, which Mr. Hart formed last year with Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody of Smuggler, a company that produces commercials and music videos.

On Tuesday Mr. Milling Smith and Mr. Carmody joined Mr. Hart at Mr. Evans's home, where Mr. Evans entertained a reporter by peppering the three with questions he had asked — How many films have you made? How much money do you make? — before agreeing to part with stage rights to his story.

"You were rather aggressive about it," Mr. Milling Smith said.

To be wary of producers, Mr. Evans said, is one of the lessons he has learned in a career that has alternately found him on top, near the bottom and almost dead.

Mr. Evans himself is still a producer, of course, with an office on the Paramount Pictures lot. He currently has a hand in projects like a planned HBO mini-series on Hollywood's behind-the-scenes kingpin Sidney Korshak, and a planned movie based on the renegade car builder John DeLorean.

But Mr. Evans said he had learned to ply his trade without the usual artifice. "It's as easy to tell the truth," he said.

Smuggler Films has tapped screenwriter Louis Mellis to write "The Princess' Gangster."

"Gangster" concerns the true story of Princess Margaret's affair with the gangster-turned-movie- tough-guy John Bindon in the late '60s.

Patrick Milling Smith, one of Smuggler's three principals, said that Mellis' dossier -- which includes such tough-talking crime tales as "Sexy Beast" and the current "44 Inch Chest" -- made him the perfect match for the material.

"We needed someone who could give us an authentic voice, because Bindon, who could break your legs but who was also a mini-celebrity, was a force of nature. He was a real raconteur and full-on entertainer. There aren't many people who can inhabit characters like that and make then amusing, but Louis definitely can."

Smuggler -- which was formed last year by producer John Hart, formerly of Hart-Sharp, and Milling Smith and Brian Carmody, video and commercial producers under their Smuggler Partners banner -- plans to finance "Gangster" through a new media fund it has assembled. Smuggler is also developing a screen adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel "The White Tiger."

Mellis is repped by CAA and the U.K.'s Independent Talent Group.

The novelist, playwright and screenwriter Hanif Kureishi has been hired to write the film adaptation of Aravind Adiga's 2008 Man Booker Prize-winning novel, 'The White Tiger,' according to The Hollywood Reporter. The book, Mr. Adiga's debut novel, examined class struggles in India through the tale of a village boy transformed into an entrepreneur. A production schedule for the movie, to be produced by Smuggler Films and Ascension Entertainment, has not been announced. Mr. Adiga also won the British Book Awards' author-of-the-year prize in April for the book, beating out President Obama for 'Dreams From My Father.' Mr. Kureishi, whose film credits include 'My Beautiful Laundrette,' has a new play, 'The Black Album,' set to open on Friday at the National Theater in London.

New York-based Smuggler Films has signed famed UK screenwriter Hanif Kureishi to adapt Man Booker Prize-winning novel 'The White Tiger' for the big screen.

No director is attached yet.

Smuggler's Patrick Milling Smith and John N. Hart will produce the film alongside Jolyon Symonds for Ascension Entertainment.

Aravind Adiga's darkly comic 2008 novel is about a chauffeur in India who blames society for his racist and violent tendencies.

Kureishi comments, "'The White Tiger' is a rag to riches murder story. It is Aravind's extraordinary characters that make this one stand out above all others."

Smuggler will finance the project with a new media fund it has assembled, with support from the UK Film Council Development Fund.

The producers added in a statement: "We are extraordinarily fortunate to have Hanif, who knows the world that is 'The White Tiger.' His compassion and insight for characters struggling for freedom make him a perfect match."

Smuggler's Hart was a founding partner of Hart Sharp Entertainment; his credits include 'Boys Don't Cry,' 'You Can Count On Me' and 'Revolutionary Road.'

Smuggler's upcoming projects include a Broadway musical of 'Once' and 'Princess Margaret' scandal story 'The Princess' Gangster.'

Kureishi, the famed author, playwright and screenwriter was Oscar nominated for 1985's 'My Beautiful Launderette.' He has also written screenplays for 'The Mother,' 'Venus' and 'The Buddha of Suburbia' for director Roger Michell.

Kureishi's play 'The Black Album' is currently showing at London's National Theatre. He recently served on the competition jury at Cannes 2009.

Hanif Kureishi has signed on to write the screen adaptation of 'The White Tiger,' which Smuggler Films is producing in association with Ascension Entertainment.

A winner of the Man Booker Prize in Britain, Aravind Adiga's novel looks at India's economic rise to power through the eyes of a young man from a poor, rural village.

Kureishi's credits range from 'My Beautiful Laundrette' to 'Venus,' and his play 'The Black Album' is playing at the National Theatre in London.

Smuggler's Patrick Milling Smith and John N. Hart will produce 'Tiger' alongside Ascension's Jolyon Symonds. It is being financed by a new media fund assembled by Smuggler with the support of the U.K. Film Council Development Fund.

Smuggler Films, in association with Ascension Entertainment, announced today their acquisition of the rights to 2008 Man Booker Prize Winner, 'The White Tiger,' written by Aravind Adiga. The novel explores the hypocrisies and chaos of contemporary India through the darkly humorous voice of Balram Halwai. "We're thrilled and honoured to have this opportunity to make such an important picture. Aravind writes a vivid world that lends itself beautifully to the medium," Smuggler's John Hart stated.

Smuggler Films is a new production company announced last week by veteran film and Broadway producer John Hart and Smuggler Partners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody. Their emphasis is "on a creative home that allows artists the opportunity to work across all media to develop and produce content."

Aravind Adiga stated, "I'm absolutely delighted, John Hart is highly regarded in the film fraternity, and I think he will make a wonderful film from this book."

Aravind Adiga is only the fourth debut novelist to win the Booker Prize and second youngest. An international and New York Times best-seller, Adiga also won Author of the Year from the British Book Awards. 'The White Tiger' was published in April 2008.

John Hart's newly formed Smuggler Films has signed on its first project, acquiring rights to the India-themed Man Booker Prize winner 'The White Tiger.'

Aravind Adiga wrote the novel, which like Oscar heavyweight 'Slumdog Millionaire' centers on class tensions in contemporary India.

The book, which took Britain's top literary prize last year, tells the story of Balram Halwai, a rough-around-the-edges, politically incorrect rickshaw driver who struggles to escape his lower caste and poor upbringing by taking a driving job for a wealthy boss -- and winds up committing a murder.

Critics have noted that the book purposefully paints an unglamorous portrait of a changing India.

Producers said this project offers a decidedly darker message than Danny Boyle's best picture winner. "While 'Slumdog' paints a romantic portrait of the rising India, in which anyone can be a millionaire, 'The White Tiger' suggests that to succeed, murder may be the only option," the producers said.

'The White Tiger' will be produced in association with Jolyon Symonds' and Nicholas Greene's Ascension Entertainment.

Hart and partners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody, video and commercial producers, recently announced the formation of Smuggler Films, which will produce a range of film, television, theatrical and digital content.

Hart is an indie producer who, after his Hart-Sharp banner was dissolved several years ago, formed Evamere Entertainment. He most recently served as a producer on 'Revolutionary Road.'

Ascension is a British-based banner that looks to specialize in prestige projects; it's developing 'Travels With My Aunt,' based on the Graham Greene novel.

NEW YORK -- Smuggler Films has acquired the pic rights to 'The White Tiger,' Aravind Adiga's 2008 Booker Prize-winning novel of contemporary India. Rights are held in association with Ascension Entertainment.

'The White Tiger' follows a murderous rickshaw puller who takes advantage of corruption and poverty while India struggles to reinvent itself as the nation of the future.

John Hart, who has been a producer on Broadway shows from the 1992 revival of 'Guys and Dolls' to the currently-running production of 'Chicago,' announced the formation of Smuggler Films last week with his partners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody. Acquisition is the company's first.

Veteran independent film producer John Hart has teamed up with Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody of commercial and music video outfit Smuggler Partners to form Smuggler Films, a production company designed to produce content in film, theatre, television and other media.

With offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, the new company plans to offer artists the opportunity to work in multiple media. In its first year, for example, Smuggler Films plans to produce at least two feature films, workshop a new musical and launch a web series intended for cable TV.

Hart, whose current production moniker is Evamere Entertainment, has film credits including 'Revolutionary Road', 'Boys Don't Cry,' 'You Can Count On Me,' 'Nicholas Nickleby,' 'A Home At The End Of The World' and 'The Night Listener.' Hart has produced 11 Broadway productions and numerous off-Broadway, regional and West End shows. Credits include the current revival of 'Chicago', the revival of 'Guys And Dolls' with Nathan Lane, 'The Who's Tommy,' 'Hamlet' with Ralph Fiennes and 'How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying' with Matthew Broderick.

Milling Smith and Carmody founded Smuggler in 2001 and has built an impressive array of directors in its commercial talent portfolio including Bennett Miller, Chris Smith, Henry-Alex Rubin and Ivan Zacharias.

"Partnering with Smuggler, with their roster of talented directors and their dedication to new media, places us in a unique position to support talent in the telling of their stories where they are best served," said Hart in a statement.

"Smuggler has always been a very intuitive company with an emphasis on taste, integrity and talent," said Milling Smith. "John instantly felt like a natural partner to us all. We could not be more delighted to build something with him. We have a fantastic team built on experience, enthusiasm, craft, instinct and grit. Our aim has always been to have a company that is in service of great ideas. Now hopefully we can stand by that, whatever the medium."

Ben Limberg joins Smuggler Films as head of production after six years at the BBC, most recently as producer/director.

Charles Stone joins as director of theater development from Hart's Evamere Entertainment.

Emily Kaplan has been hired as the company's LA-based creative executive, based in Los Angeles. She has worked previously at The Weinstein Company, Miramax and for director Steven Shainberg.

John Hart, the producer behind a series of indie hits during the past decade, is forming a company with commercial and music-video outfit Smuggler.

The producer of 'Boys Don't Cry' and 'Revolutionary Road' as well as Broadway revivals like 'Guys and Dolls' is teaming with Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody of Smuggler to form production and financing entity Smuggler Films. In 2009, Smuggler Films will aim to produce two theatrical features, workshop a musical and develop a TV series, with plans to branch out further in 2010.

Smuggler Films also has made a group of hires, bringing on BBC veteran Ben Limberg as head of production, Charles Stone from Hart's Evamere Entertainment as director of theater development and Weinstein Co. alum Emily Kaplan as creative exec.

Hart counts 'Proof,' 'A Home at the End of the World' and 'You Can Count on Me' among his film credits and, on the theater side, productions of 'Chicago' and 'Tommy.'

Hart had been running Evamere, with 'Revolutionary Road' its most prominent film credit. Milling Smith's and Carmody's Smuggler reps such directors as Bennett Miller and Henry-Alex Rubin for commercials.

NEW YORK -- Gotham film and legit producer John Hart, formerly of Hart Sharp, has formed production company Smuggler Films.

Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody are partnering with Hart on the venture. They ran an earlier incarnation of Smuggler as a commercial and musicvid production house after launching it in 2001. It has ties to helmers including Bennett Miller and Chris Smith.

The new Smuggler will handle film, TV and legit projects, with offices in Gotham, L.A. and London.

Hart praised his new partners' "roster of talented directors and their dedication to new media."

Smuggler's plan for this year is to set up two film projects, workshop a stage musical and produce a Web series ticketed for cable TV. It subsequently hopes to boost the slate and branch into co-financing and other media investments.

The three partners also have settled on several key staffers at Smuggler. They include Ben Limberg, a six-year BBC vet, who joins as head of production; Charles Stone, who segues from Evamere to head up legit development; and Emily Kaplan, formerly of Miramax and the Weinstein Co., who will be an L.A.-based creative exec.

Hart's 15 feature credits include 'Revolutionary Road,' 'You Can Count on Me' and 'Boys Don't Cry.' On Broadway, he has been a producer of top revivals such as 'Chicago,' 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' and 'Annie Get Your Gun.'

In 2007, Hart formed Evamere Entertainment upon the dissolution of Hart Sharp.