EuropaCorp laughs with 'Love'

Luc Besson's EuropaCorp is rolling out sales on "Love Lasts Three Years," its highest-profile comedy hit at January's Unifrance Paris Rendez-vous.EuropaCorp has pacted for Germany with Prokino, Russia with Cinema Prestige and Turkey with Bir.In a parallel move, Jaimie Alexander ("Thor") has been cast in female lead role in EuropaCorp's upcomming thriller "Intersection."Written by Gallic novelist and media celeb Frederic Beigbeder, EuropaCorp's "Love Lasts" centers on a wise-cracking social gadfly, who's written a book claiming love lasts three years, but then falls for his cousin's beautiful wife (Louis Bourgoin).Released by EuropaCorp in France on Jan. 18, "Love Lasts Three Years" has grossed 3.8 million ($5 million) in its first three weeks.In 'Intersection," Alexander plays a rich newly-wedded wife who conspires wih her lover to kill her husband Frank Grillo ("Gangster Squad"). Her plans go awry when her husband and lover are involved in a multiple car crash in the middle of the Moroccan dessert.Screenwriter David Marconi ("Live Free or Die Hard," "Enemy of the State") is attached to direct."Intersection" lenses in late February in Morocco. EuropaCorp is selling the pic at the European Film Market. Marie-Laure Montironi, EuropaCorp international sales head, said just before Berlin that she was in advanced negotiations to close Germany and Benelux, both now key territories for French films.Though best-known for its high-testosterone thrillers, EuropaCorp produces films across a wider range than it is often credited for -- from feature debuts ("Love Lasts Three Years") to art pics (Xavier Giannoli's "In the Beginning"), comedies and animation (Bibo Bergeron's "A Monster in Paris")."Having a diversity of projects allows for a diversity of options to offer to international distributors and broadcasters, both free-to-air and pay TV. It's a big strength," said Montironi. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com