Producer Chris Zimmer of Halifax-based imX communications is currently shooting The River King, a $16-million feature starring Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice) and Edward Burns (Confidence).

Directed by Brit Nick Willing, the feature is based on Alice Hoffman’s novel of the same name, adapted by David Kane. The U.K./Canada copro is a mystery thriller about a small-town cop, played by Burns, whose investigation into a young man’s death is aided by visits from the deceased’s spirit.

Other key cast include John Kapelos (Shallow Ground), Rachelle Lefevre (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Sean McCann (Chicago).

Zimmer coproduces with Michele Camarda of Kismet Film Company in the U.K., Michael Lionello Cowan and Jason Piette of U.K.-based Spice Factory and Marion Pilowsky of Myriad Pictures, which has offices in L.A. and London.

Executive producers include Joshua Andrews, Peter James and James Simpson from U.K.’s Movision Entertainment, and Myriad’s Kirk D’Amico.

Shooting takes place in the Halifax area from March 16 to May 4 under director of photography Paul Sarossy, whose past projects include The Snow Walker, Ararat and The Sweet Hereafter.

The River King is funded through Telefilm Canada, The Movie Network, Movie Central and Movision, which will also handle international sales in conjunction with Myriad. Odeon Films will handle sales in Canada and Momentum in the U.K.

Zimmer is also in development on Partition, a feature to be directed by Vic Sarin (Cold Comfort) in South Africa and India this fall. Sarin will cowrite with Patricia Finn, while Zimmer coproduces with D’Amico and Tina Pehme of Vancouver’s Sepia Films.