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Despite an executive shake-up Wednesday that saw CEO James Schamus out and Peter Schlessel taking the reins, it’s back to business at Focus Features.
The specialty label has closed a deal to make a feature-length adaptation of Jesse Atlas‘ short Record/Play with Charles Roven‘s (Man of Steel) Atlas Entertainment producing.
Atlas is writing the screenplay with Aaron Wolfe and is attached to direct.
The 11-minute short, which screened at Sundance in January, is described as tragic love story wrapped in a complex time-travel scenario. The time travel is achieved by manipulating a Walkman to transport to the source of a cassette recording.
The project marks the first to move forward since Schamus’ exited the specialty label amid speculation that Focus would begin to move away from its art house sensibilities. A Roven-esque sci-fi project would be a departure for the old Focus and sheds light on the direction the specialty label might be headed under Schlessel’s charge.
Jeb Brody is overseeing the project at Focus. Atlas Entertainment’s Richard Suckle is producing, while Roven is executive producing. Jake Kurily is shepherding for Atlas Entertainment.
Roven is producing the Man of Steel follow-up Batman vs. Superman for Warner Bros. He also has David O. Russell‘s awards-season hopeful American Hustle bowing on Christmas Day.
Jesse Altas and Wolfe are repped by WME, Underground’s Josh McGuire and attorney Mike Schenkman.
E-mail: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com
Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27
