Screenwriter Gigi Gaston has sold a pitch to Imagine Entertainment abut the pre-World War II romance between King Carol of Romania and Magda Lupescu. The project, titled "Madame Lupescu," was bought by Imagine on Friday for mid-six figures against high six figures, sources said. Gaston would get a producing fee in the mid-six-figure range if the project goes forward.

The project is described as an epic telling of the romance of Romania's King Carol II with Lupescu, his mistress in the years leading up to World War II, when anti-Semitic laws wre in force in the country.

Gaston's script will be based on source material from a previous script by Lenny Bleecher. He had written a project about the life of Lupescu after interviewing her shortly before her death in 1977.

Bleecher first told Gaston about his project 15 years ago. "I have had this story in my heart since then," Gaston said. Having sold other specs, she optioned the project in February with producer Bryan Bantry. He and partner Colleen Camp will join Gaston on "Madame Lupescu."

Gaston's sci-fi epic "Mockingbird" sold to New Line in 1995 with Steve Tisch attached to produce. Another project, "Like a Lady," was sold later that year to Miramax with Drew Barrymore attached. Gaston will be exec producer on both pics. She is also in the final stages of completing "The Cream Will Rise", a docu about Sophie B. Hawkins.

Among the execs key to lining up the deal were Imagine's Jan Finger and U's Eric Hughes. Gaston was repped by Ramses IsHak and Graham Kay at William Morris Agency, manager Bettina Sofia Viviano and attorney Patti Felker.

The Film | About Gigi Gaston | Video-Sound | Pictures | Order | Festivals

Articles | Reviews | Sophie B Hawkins Underground