Bond 22 director Marc Forster to executive produce `Land of Roses`

Mandate Pictures is reteaming with director Marc Forster for the drama "Land of Roses." Forster, who helmed "Stranger Than Fiction" for Mandate, will executive produce "Roses," which he is developing as a potential directing vehicle, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Inspired by the real-life experiences of Kurdish immigrant Ibrahim Parlak in post-Sept. 11 America, the story line follows a suburban mother who, with the support of her fellow outraged townspeople, attempts to exonerate a hardworking Middle Eastern father falsely imprisoned as a terrorist by Homeland Security. Albert Torres will pen the screenplay.

"When you have a good experience working with someone, you always look for the next project to collaborate on; 'Land of Roses' was that project for us," Mandate motion picture president Nathan Kahane said. "Albert writes with a distinctive voice, and to couple that talent with Marc's vision as a filmmaker is a rare opportunity we didn't want to miss."

Management 360, which reps Forster and Torres, will produce "Roses." Mandate's Joe Drake and Kahane also will serve in some producer capacity, with Mary Lee overseeing production for the company.

Torres has several projects being developed with major filmmakers attached, including "Altered Carbon" at Warner Bros. Pictures, with Joel Silver producing; Mark Pellington's "Stain," set up at Lakeshore Entertainment; and Francis Lawrence's "Survivor" at Thousand Words. He also is penning a narrative adaptation of the Academy Award-nominated documentary "Murderball," to be directed by James Mangold.

The scribe additionally is repped by CAA and attorney Gretchen Bruggeman Rush.

Forster, whose helming credits also include "Finding Neverland" and "Monster's Ball," recently wrapped "The Kite Runner." Last week, he landed the coveted assignment of directing the next installment in the James Bond franchise (HR 6/20).

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