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Mouse House cuts to chase in prod'n deal submitted by: Lisa D. source: Daily Variety Date: October 9, 2001 By CATHY DUNKLEY and CHARLES LYONS Producer Debra Martin Chase, via her Martin Chase Prods. shingle, has sealed a one-year, first-look overall production deal at the Walt Disney Co. Pact comes with an option to reup for another year. The Mouse House recently acquired film rights to "The Princess Diaries" author Meg Cabot's next adult novel, "All-American Girl," which Martin Chase will produce for the studio. At Fox Searchlight, Martin Chase has set up "Rescue Me," an African-American version of "How to Marry a Millionaire," with Latham Entertainment; and "The Kiss Before Midnight," a Cinderella-themed story set on a college campus, on which she is partnered with Lakeshore and Latham. Outside of her own deal with Disney, Martin Chase will continue her relationship with Whitney Houston and her BrownHouse Prods. on a number of projects, also at the Mouse House. Pact covers the producer's upcoming sequel to Disney comedy "The Princess Diaries," in which Martin Chase is partnered with Houston. Follow-up is being penned by Gina Wendkos, who adapted the first "Princess." Directed by Garry Marshall and starring Julie Andrews and newcomer Anne Hathaway, "Diaries" has grossed more than $ 100 million domestically. BrownHouse Prods. and Martin Chase have also set up a remake of the 1976 film "Sparkle" at Warner Bros. with E. Lynn Harris penning the contemporized redo. Martin Chase also is partnered with BrownHouse on a new version of "Sleeping Beauty" for ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney," with Jim Pentecost and Mike Karz, in which Houston will take a starring role. Martin Chase and BrownHouse will be teaming with producer Arnold Rifkin on a remake of the Claude Lelouch movie "One 4 All," which is set up at MGM. BrownHouse and Martin Chase are also producing "Diva," in conjunction with Will Smith's Overbrook Prods. for Universal, for Houston to star in. Prior to partnering with Houston, Martin Chase, repped by WMA, ran Mundy Lane Entertainment, Denzel Washington's TriStar Pictures-based production company from 1992-95. There, she was involved with TriStar's "Devil in a Blue Dress" and exec produced with Washington the documentary "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream," which aired on TBS in 1995; she also exec produced Fox 2000's "Courage Under Fire" for director Ed Zwick. Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2001