Robert De Niro and Miramax Films have teamed up to deliver the winning bid for screen rights to the Broadway musical, Rent, various news services are reporting.

No figure was disclosed, but bids have been reported at between $2.5 and $5 million.

Daily Variety quoted unnamed sources saying Miramax and Tribeca are talking about involving Martin Scorsese, possibly as producer, possibly as director.

However, the film reportedly won't compete with the Pulitzer and Tony-winning musical for at least three years, according to the agreement.

Among studios that had competed for the rights were Warner Bros., Fine Line, Universal and Jersey Films. The parents and sisters of composer/lyricist/librettist Jonathan Larson reportedly made the choice this week. Larson died of an aortic aneurysm at age 35, just hours after the show's final Off-Broadway dress rehearsal.

The musical is scheduled to go into PR overdrive the week of Aug. 25, with an all-but-definite appearance at the Democratic National Convention Aug. 26, and the release of the original cast recording Aug. 27.

-- By Robert Viagas