La Petite Reine button snaps into action

A redo from the 1980 cult serial-killer pic "Maniac," created and co-compiled by Alexandre Aja, is probably the high-profile projects within the works at Thomas Langmann's fast-growing La Petite Reine.Also on tap are actioner "Colt 45" from Fabrice du Welz and "Police Francaise" from Abdellatif Kechiche.The Paris producer's 2011 slate is falling into position as Langmann is talking about a movie-by-film pact for Wild Bunch to get worldwide privileges on Petite Reine projects."Piranha three dimensional" and "High Tension" helmer Aja is planning an British-language redo of William Lustig's brutal "Maniac."Gregory Levasseur, Aja's creative partner, will direct. Aja assists as producer and co-author and become on set every single day, Langmann stated. Allocated at $ten million-$12 million and presently casting, the current-day reboot is scheduled to shoot at the end of August in NY and Canada."This is a really frightening movie along with a tribute to Lustig," Langmann stated.Langmann, director-producer Claude Berri's boy, broke through with two 2008 Gallic tentpoles: live-action "Asterix in the Olympics" and Jean-Francois Richet's two-part gangster thriller "Mesrine."Though more decently allocated than "Mesrine," a couple of Langmann's three new photos likewise deliver modern riffs on France's lengthy tradition of noirish movies.After "Calvaire" and "Vinyan," Belgian author-director du Welz will helm "Colt 45" (also known as "Miles"), in regards to a weapons-expert cop who finds out his killer instinct."It will likely be a really strong film noir action movie occur central Paris in addition to a deep character study," du Welz guaranteed.Presently casting, the ten million ($13.4 million) pic comes at the end of fall, stated Julien Arnoux, "Colt 45" professional producer for La Petite Reine. Pic will shoot in France along with other nations. Du Welz has modified a Fathi Beddiar script.Kechiche is writing "Police francaise," adapting book "Omerta dans la police," ex-policewoman Sihem Souid's denunciation of corruption, abuse of energy, sexism and racism on France's police. Kechiche also directs."Police" is envisaged, rather like Olivier Assayas' "Carlos," like a miniseries on Canal Plus and something film for theatrical distribution, Langmann stated.For Berlin, Wild Bunch acquired worldwide privileges to Christophe Barratier's "The War from the Buttons," which comes in June, as well as on Petite Reine-created, $18.4 million "The Artist," with Jean Dujardin and John Goodman. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com