Ruffalo Makes 'cut' With Ryan In Campion Film

Mark Ruffalo is in negotiations to star opposite Meg Ryan in the controversial erotic thriller "In the Cut" for director Jane Campion.

An adaptation of a novel by Susanna Moore, the $15 million-budgeted project is scheduled to start shooting in the summer, with Sony's Screen Gems distributing domestically and in some foreign territories. Pathe International is financing and producing the project as well as repping open international rights at the American Film Market this week.

Billed as an extremely violent love story, "Cut" stars Ryan as a thirtysomething creative-writing teacher whose neighborhood and life are disrupted by the murder of a young woman. Ruffalo stars as the detective investigating the case. His character becomes sexually involved and obsessed with Ryan's.

Campion, who adapted the project along with Moore, also is producing with Laurie Parker.

Ruffalo, repped by CAA, attended the Sundance Film Festival last month to tout the dramatic competition entry "XX/XY," which was acquired postfestival for North American distribution by IFC Films. He next stars in the MGM war drama "Windtalkers" alongside Nicolas Cage and in Miramax Films' "A View From the Top."