Fine Line, Spelling Combine to Back Altman’s ‘Short Cuts’

There are “major names committed” and “even a waiting list of actors” for maverick director Robert Altman’s next movie, “Short Cuts,” which will begin shooting in late July on Los Angeles locations.

But a spokeswoman for the director said Wednesday that it will be a while before the cast of 27 roles is finalized, since the production deal for the long-delayed project was only announced Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival.

At the festival, Fine Line Features, a division of New Line Cinema Corp., and Aaron Spelling’s Spelling Films International said they will finance Altman’s $15-million production, which was written by Altman and Frank Barhydt, based on short stories by the late Raymond Carver. It is described as an ensemble piece with many stories woven together in the vein of Altman’s “Nashville,” except the setting will be Los Angeles.

New Line will distribute the film in the United States and Spelling will handle international licensing.

The deal was announced in the wake of a warm reception at the festival for Altman’s current film “The Player,” a movie that takes a cynical look at Hollywood executives and deal making. Based on current box-office statistics, the film is appealing to a much broader than anticipated audience in the United States.

Altman’s spokeswoman confirmed that “Short Cuts” has been planned for years and that most of the major studios had passed on the project.