Deal Inked by Creative Industry Law Group

Pressman, Djerassi team for ‘Lies’ pic

LONDON — Producer Edward R. Pressman and Dale Djerassi have acquired film rights to “Lies Have Been Told,” the one-man play about the late British newspaper mogul Robert Maxwell. Although financial details have not been disclosed Pressman and Djerassi have been working with directors and screenwriters based in London to develop a movie version of the play by Rod Beacham. “Lies,” starring Philip York, had a highly successful and critically acclaimed run on the West End.

Pressman reflected, “Maxwell’s story is ‘Citizen Kane’ meets ‘Wall Street.’” Hungarian-born newspaper owner Robert Maxwell had a colorful life with rumors of involvement in espionage and many boardroom battles before mysteriously disappearing overboard from his luxury yacht in the Canary Islands in 1991. Pressman’s films include “Reversal of Fortune,” “Wall Street” and “Thank You for Smoking,” and Djerassi, who was represented in the negotiations by Lizbeth Hasse of Creative Industry Law is known for producing and directing documentaries like “Oil on Ice,” as well as for his support and development of cutting-edge arts and theater projects.

Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter