Laurence Fishburne Journeys with 'The Alchemist'

Zap2It.com | June 27, 2007

Laurence Fishburne

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Formerly set up at Warner Bros., film will now be independently financed

Laurence Fishburne and A-Mark Entertainment have acquired the rights to Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist."

Warner Bros. had originally purchased Coelho's philosophical bestseller back in 2003 and set the project up as a directing vehicle for Fishburne, who also penned the screenplay.

After extensive delays, Fishburne and A-Mark decided to take full control over the project, securing financing through the Paradigm Motion Picture Finance Group, according to the industry trades.

Barry Osborne and Helen Sugland will produce along with Fishburne, while Steve Markoff and Bruce McNall will executive produce for A-Mark.

Published in 1988 and translated into more than 50 languages, selling more than 40 million copies, "The Alchemist" is the story of a Spanish shepherd seeking his destiny in a journey through space and time.

Fishburne's feature writing and directing credits are limited to the 2000 drama "Once in the Life." He most recently produced "Akeelah and the Bee" and he can be heard as the voice of the Silver Surfer in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer."