13/11/2002 - UK production arm of Pathé is behind three major new UK film projects including the eagerly awaited follow up to Gurinder Chadha's Bend it Like Beckham, a Bollywood "Pride & Prejudice"

The UK production arm of French group Pathé has three UK projects at various stages of production. Suzie Gold, a romantic comedy directed by newcomer Ric Cantor and starring Summer Phoenix (The Believer), is currently shooting in London. Produced by Rebecca Green with backing from Pathé, Inside Track, the Film Council, Sky Movies and the Isle of Man Film & TV Fund, it is the story of a young girl who tries to establish herself outside the social conventions and traditions of her Jewish family. Pathé Distribution will release Suzie Gold in the UK and France.
Two projects are currently in pre-production: Gurinder Chadha’s follow up to the hit Bend It Like Beckham is said to be a ‘contemporary Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice”. The project will go into production next March and will shoot in India, the UK and the US.
Girl With a Pearl Earring, Peter Webber’s directorial feature debut, is based on Tracy Chevalier’s best-selling novel. The film stars Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Diary), Scarlett Johansson - (Ghost Dog), Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom) and Cilian Murphy (28 Days Later) and is produced by Andy Paterson and Anand Tucker (Hilary And Jackie). Set in 17th Century Holland, it is the imagined and suspenseful story of a tile-maker’s daughter who is forced by tragedy to become a maid to master-painter, Vermeer.
All three films are sold by Pathé International.