ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES AND SCIENCES - ZETA.JONES SPLASHES OUT FOR MOVIE

OSCAR winner CATHERINE ZETA-JONES' film company will develop and produce a feature film based on the stage play GETTING AND SPENDING.

MICHAEL J CHEPIGA's play - billed as a romantic comedy - is being developed as a starring vehicle for ZETA-JONES, who won the Best Supporting Actress trophy at last month's (23MAR03) ACADEMY AWARDS for her part in CHICAGO.

Getting and Spending centres on a woman who finds herself accused of insider trading and tries to persuade a high-powered lawyer to leave self-imposed solitude to defend her in court.

The Welsh stunner - who's MILKWOOD FILMS company will shoot the movie - says, "I have had a longtime interest in the material and am looking forward to its fruition.

Film firm PATHE UK's managing director FRANCOIS IVERNEL adds, "We are confident that Michael's stage play will be the foundation of a wonderfully clever romantic comedy, which will provide a perfect role for Catherine Zeta-Jones."