'Great' gig for Bening

BeningAnnette Bening is positioned to topline director Gillian Armstrong's "The Fantastic,In . using the information on Catherine the fantastic, which Bankside Films is unveiling to customers within the Berlinale.Bening may have the Russian empress inside the pic, composed by Tony McNamara and produced by Marian Macgowan of Oz's Macgowan Films and Lago Films' Marco Mehlitz."The Fantastic,In . which has already pre-provided to Icon Film Distribution in Nz and australia, is scheduled to lense in September.Bankside may even sell U.K. producer Damian Jones' ("The Iron Lady") 1700s-set "Belle," inspired through the presence of Dido Elizabeth Belle who was simply the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of John Lindsay, the nephew in the Earl of Mansfield.Amma Asante ("A Existence-style") will helm the pic, that's casting and skedded flowing within this summer time.Also round the Bankside slate is Pad Whitecross' "Spike Island," about five teen boys visiting Spike Island in summer season 1990 to find out their rock heroes, the Stone Roses. Revolver is disseminating in Blighty.Bankside may also be selling Helen Mirren starrer "The Entrance,Inch helmed by Istvan Szabo, that's getting its market world preem within the EFM. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com