Skarsgard looking for historic epic

RIO P JANEIRO -- Stellan Skarsgard and Joaquim p Almeida are going to star in Canadian helmer Sylvain Archambault's "Rouge Bresil," according to Jean-Christophe Rufin's 2001 historic bestseller. The $11 million project continues to be setup being an indie worldwide co-production including France, South america, Canada and Portugal, developing a Portuguese/British-language feature as well as an British-language TV series with two instances of 100 minutes (Daily Variety, May 16). Story is occur France Antarctique, established in 1555 within the seaside region where Rio p Janeiro has become situated. A haven for French Protestant Huguenots, who fled religious wars in France, the colony was ultimately equalized through the Portuguese in 1567. Skarsgard plays French explorer Nicolas Durand p Villegagnon, with p Almeida as his rival. "It shows the absurdity of religious wars. Whenever you be a fundamentalist, it's harmful to everyone," stated professional producer Nicolas Traube, partner and leader of Paris-based lead producer Pampa and former mind of drama for pubcaster funnel France 2. Pampa is joining up with Brazil's Conspiracao to create the television series and have, which begins filming on Monday in Rio condition and really should be finished within the second quarter of 2012. Based on Traube, France 2 may be the leading investor around the Gallic side and it is because of air in france they language-named series within the other half of the coming year. The key Brazilian traders are TV Globo's theatrical arm, Globo Filmes, and Rio government's film company RioFilme. Luiz Noronha, Conspiracao partner and director for TV productions, stated TV Globo has got the first choice to buy and air a Portuguese-named version from the series. "Within the probably scenario, we'll first release the feature within the Brazilian theatrical market, then Globo will air the series," stated Noronha, adding Conspiracao is settling the Brazilian theatrical distribution privileges with indie distrib Downtown. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com