Summit picks up 'Three Musketeers' for U.S.

CANNES -- Summit Entertainment has picked up U.S. distribution on Paul W.S. Anderson's upcoming 3D swashbuckler "The Three Musketeers." Summit, which also is selling the Constantin Film/Impact Pictures project worldwide in Cannes, plans to bow "Three Musketeers" next summer. To meet that tight delivery date, Anderson has pushed up principle photography by a month and will start shooting the film in August.

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"We recognize the blockbuster potential of 'The Three Musketeers,' so summer 2011 is the ideal window," said Constantin exec Martin Moskowicz, who will have an executive producing credit on the film. "It means we have to start filming a month earlier than planned, but we are ready to shoot."

Anderson is in a race to get his Musketeers on the screen ahead of Warner Bros.' rival project, which Doug Liman is on board to direct. The Warner take on the classic Alexandre Dumas tale is looking to begin shooting in the fall.

Ray Stevenson ("The Book of Eli"), Luke Evans ("Clash of the Titans") and Matthew Macfadyen ("Robin Hood") are attached to star as Musketeers Porthos, Aramis and Athos, respectively. The film's baddies include Oscar winner Christoph Waltz as Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen as Rochefort. Anderson's wife, Milla Jovovich, has been cast as Athos' old flame Milady de Winter.
Anderson and his Impact Pictures partner Jeremy Bolt will produce "Three Musketeers" together with Constantin Film's Robert Kulzer. Andrew Davies and Alex Litvalk wrote the screenplay.

Constantin will release "Three Musketeers" in Germany.