Lionsgate U.K. juices up 'Lemon' pic

Lionsgate U.K. is placed to create its first feature comedy, in line with the Brit TV character Keith Lemon. "Keith Lemon: The Film" is going to be co-composed through the character creator Leigh Francis, who also produced Television show "Bo' Selecta!," and Paul Angunawela. Within the pic, helmed by Angunawela, Keith follows his imagine being a effective entrepreneur, like his hero Richard Branson. Verne Troyer will star alongside Francis and lensing is skedded to start in Belfast on November. 17. Generator Entertainment's Mark Huffam ("Bet on Thrones"), Simon Bosanquet ("Whole Lotta Sole") and Aidan Elliott produce while Lionsgate U.K. topper Zygi Kamasa will professional produce. Nick Manzi and Emma Berkofsky developed the pic as well as professional produce for Lionsgate U.K. Additional financing originates from London publish-house Molinaire. "Keith Lemon" airs on commercial broadcaster ITV. It is the second time Lionsgate has joined with Francis. Last Christmas Lionsgate Home Theatre launched "Keith Lemon's Fit!," a comedy DVD parody of fitness videos, which offered a lot more than 100,000 models in Blighty. In the Toronto Film Festival in September, Lionsgate U.K. introduced it had been co-creating Colin Firth starrer "The Railway Guy." It is also professional creating Mike Newell's "Great Anticipation," which started lensing in October. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com