Soderbergh helms 'Limey' (original) (raw)

Indie maven Steven Soderbergh will direct crime thriller “The Limey” for Artisan Entertainment, the company announced Wednesday.

“Limey” is about an Englishman named Stark who comes to Los Angeles to avenge the murder of his brother. After discovering that he was killed by King, a tough gunrunner, Stark elects to do battle with the crime kingpin.

Pic, which was written by Lem Dobbs, will be produced by Scott Kramer and regular Soderbergh collaborator John Hardy, who has produced six of the helmer’s pics, including his famous debut, “sex, lies and videotape.”

Artisan, headed by presidents Amir Malin and Bill Block, and CEO Mark Curcio, will finance the pic and handle worldwide distribution. Artisan has its own domestic operation and distributes internationally via Patrick Wachsberger’s Summit Entertainment, in which it holds a minority stake.

Dobbs and Soderbergh worked together on Soderbergh’s 1991 pic “Kafka.” Dobbs’ other credits include “Romancing the Stone” and “Dark City.”

Artisan said that it aimed to have the film ready for release by summer 1999.