William H. Macy and Meg Ryan will star in the indie comedy, The Deal from Muse Entertainment, Dogpond/Sydnyk Works, Union Square Entertainment, and Peace Arch Entertainment.

Macy and Steven Schachter co-wrote the film based on Peter Lefcourt's novel about Hollywood; Schachter is directing. Variety reports Macy will play a down-on-his-luck Hollywood producer who cons a major studio into financing a $100 million action adventure script about 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. When the leading man gets kidnapped, and the picture is shut down, the producer and a Hollywood studio exec use the studio's blocked funds to make a completely different picture without telling the studio.

Shooting on The Deal begins in South Africa in March.