Marc-André Grondin is to star in 5150, rue des Ormes, the Québécois actor’s first film in Canada since 2006’s La belle bête.

The psychological thriller is directed by Éric Tessier (Sophie, Evil World) from a screenplay by Patrick Senécal and Tessier, based on Senécal’s best-selling novel of the same name. The project reunites the star of Jean-Marc Vallée’s 2005 hit C.R.A.Z.Y. with its producer, Pierre Even, of Montreal production company Cirrus Communications. Shooting is due to wrap this week in Montreal.

‘Since C.R.A.Z.Y., I’ve always wanted to work again with Marc-André Grondin, one of our most talented young actors. We are thrilled to see him back in Quebec to shoot 5150, rue des ormes‘ said Even in a statement. In English the title is 5150 Elm’s Way.

Grondin had a minor role in the second part of Steven Soderbergh’s Che Guevara biopic Guerrilla, and will be seen next in French filmmaker Michel Delgado’s upcoming Bouquet final with Gérard Depardieu. In January, Grondin goes on location in Louisiana for French director Jean-Paul Salomé’s Le caméléon opposite Felicity Huffman

In 5150, rue des Ormes, he plays Yannick, a young man who stumbles unwittingly into the clutches of psychopath M. Beaulieu, a chess wizard who lives at the end of Elm’s Way. Obsessed with ridding the world of evil, Beaulieu (Normand d’Amour) is accompanied in his delusion by his wife (Sonia Vachon), who believes her husband is an incarnation of God himself. He gives Yannick one chance: beat him at chess and he will spare his life. But Yannick has never played the game.

Even’s Cirrus colleagues Josée Vallée and Richard Speer are executive producers. DOP is François Dutil, while Alain Baril edits. The film is financed with the participation of Telefilm Canada and SODEC, plus federal and Quebec tax credits. Alliance Vivafilm will distribute in the fall of 2009.

Cirrus attracted attention earlier this year when it sold remake rights to its other Quebec hit, Nitro, to L.A. production house Valhalla Motion Pictures.