BiFrost Pictures Boards Paul Bettany’s Directorial Debut, 'Shelter'

Daniel Wagner's BiFrost Pictures has signed on to produce and finance PaulBettany's directorial debut, Shelter.

Robert Ogden Barnum, Katie Mustard and Bettany are also producing, with Cassian Elwes, Aimee Shieh, Melanie Greene, Dana Brown andClay Floren executive producing.The film, starring Bettany's wife, Jennifer Connelly, along with Anthony Mackie, will shoot in Manhattan in the fall. Bettany also wrote the script for the project.

Voltage Pictures will represent international rights and will bring to film to the Toronto International Film Festival.UTA and Elwes are co-repping domestic rights.

"It's my intention to surround myself with hugely talented people and then claim all the credit. I have great actors, great producers and a great city to shoot in -- plus I'm hoping to keep alive the time-honored tradition sacred to directors and seduce my leading actress," said Bettany.

Bettany most recently appeared in Iron Man 3, The Avengersand Margin Call. The English actor recently wrapped filming onTranscendence, starring Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall. He's repped by UTA, Affirmative Entertainment and Independent Talent Group.

Bettany and Connelly married in January 2003. They met while shooting A Beautiful Mind. Connelly's upcoming projects include fantasy film Winter's Tale and Darren Aronofsky's Noah. She's repped by CAA and The Schiff Company.

Mackie most recently appeared in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain, and his upcoming films includeRunner, Runner and The Fifth Estate. He'll star as Wilson/The Falcon in the upcoming sequelCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. He's repped by UTA and Inspire Entertainment.

BiFrost Pictures' current slate includes The Girl Who Conned the Ivy League, which will starAmanda Seyfried, and The World Made Straight, starring Minka Kelly, Haley Joel Osmentand Noah Wyle and based on the novel by Ron Rash