from THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Warner Bros. will finance and distribute "Kundun," Martin Scorsese's next movie as a director, sources said Wednesday. The project, about the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, will be his first film after the upcoming "Casino."

"Kundun" was initially meant to be made by Universal Pictures, but sources said the studio quietly put the film into turnaround this month. After Universal made the decision not to finance the film, Warner Bros. began talks with Scorsese. The two parties teamed successfully on the Ray Liotta-Robert De Niro starrer "GoodFellas."

No reasons were given for Universal's decision to put "Kundun" into turnaround. However, the part-period piece is likely to be expensive and is already one of two Tibet-themed movies going before the cameras next year -- the other being TriStar's 'Seven Days in Tibet," which has Brad Pitt attached to star in the Jean-Jacques Annaud-directed film.

"Kundun" is based on a script by Melissa Mathison ("E.T. The Extraterrestrial," "The Black Stallion") and will be produced by Scorsese's longtime collaborator Barbara De Fina for Cappa Prods. The script was based on years of research about the Dalai Lama. No start date has been established, but sources said it's expected to start shooting early next year.

Scorsese has been interested in Tibet ever since seeing World War II footage of the country. Mathison, in her research, has reportedly met the current Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who now lives in Dharamsala, India, where he has been based since being forced into exile by the Chinese Government.

Scorsese could not be reached for comment.

Scorsese's Creative Artists Agency agents, Richard Lovett, Jay Moloney and Jessica Tuchinsky brokered the deal. A CAA rep declined comment. Universal and Warner Bros. spokesman did not return calls late Wednesday.

Forwarded by Jeffrey Weiser