Indie production house Ignite Entertainment is reuniting with writer-director Tim McCanlies ("Dancer, Texas Pop. 81") to produce "The Night We Liberated Paris," a dark comedy set against the backdrop of WWII. Ignite partners Michael Burns, Marc Butan and Leanna Creel made the announcement.

"Paris" is based on McCanlies' darkly comic depiction of the experiences of five young bomb disposal specialists. Story follows the group over the course of a one-night Paris spree. Wanting only to get drunk and chase women, they are hotly pursued by the occupying Germans and the French Resistance, who are desperate for them to defuse some Nazi bombs.

Burns called the project "funny, touching and harrowing" with elements of "American Graffiti" and "MASH," and feels it will have strong appeal to both the youth and foreign markets.

Ignite and McCanlies first collaborated on TriStar's "Dancer, Texas Pop. 81." McCanlies' other writing credits include the animated "The Iron Giant," which Warner Bros. will release this summer.

Formed in 1997, Ignite Entertainment has made a name for itself developing younger-skewing features with ensemble casts. It's currently developing the relationship comedy "Getting Over Allison" from writer R. Lee Fleming, recently acquired by Dimension. "But I'm a Cheerleader," starring Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, will unspool this fall. Currently onscreen is Ignite's Morgan J. Freeman project "Desert Blue," starring Christina Ricci and Kate Hudson.

McCanlies is repped by Tom Strickler at Endeavor.

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