Scottish Director David MacKenzie Joins ‘Stain in the Snow’

Director David MacKenzie (”Hallam Foe“) has boarded the psychological drama “Stain In the Snow,” an adaptation of the 1948 novel by Georges Simenon, which Germany’s Studio Hamburg International is producing.Mackenzie will move to “Stain” after finishing his U.S. feature film debut, the sex comedy “Spread” starring Aston Kutcher and Anne Heche.

Studio Hamburg is currently developing the script together with Chorion, the UK-based executors of the Simenon estate. Shooting on the $11 million- $14 million pictures is planned for 2009 in Germany.

Studio Hamburg’s Malte Grunert and Sytze van der Laan will produce with Chorion receiving an executive producer credit.

Set in an unnamed country obviously based on Nazi-occupied France, the novel is about a naive boy who descends into psychosis and depravity. It was previously adapted for the screen by Luis Saslavsky as “La Neige etait sale” (1952).

Simenon was one of the most prolific and acclaimed writers of the 20th century. His books have sold more than 600 million copies worldwide and dozens have been made into films.

Anne Heche Replaces J.J. Leigh In ‘Spread’

Anne Heche has replaced Jennifer Jason Leigh in new indie sex comedy Spread.Leigh withdrew from the project last week amid rumours that she is expecting a baby with director husband Noah Baumbach, claims The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie stars Ashton Kutcher as a serial womaniser, with Heche playing one of his old flames.

Kutcher’s production company Katalyst is producing the film, with Scottish director David MacKenzie (Hallam Foe) at the helm.

It is scheduled to begin shooting in LA immediately.