Jim Carrey's new psychlogical thriller The Number 23 has sparked a slew of conspiracy theories connected to the figure - and the film's marketing bosses are using them to promote the project.

In production notes sent out ahead of the film's release on February 23, marketing masterminds have come up with 23 reasons why the number 23 is a special figure.

In Carrey's new movie, the funnyman gets serious as a man obsessed with the number 23.

The movie is loosely based on the `23 enigma' which refers to the belief that all incidents and events are directly connected to the number 23, some permutation of the number 23, or a number related to the number 23.

The 10 highlights of the production notes list are:

1. Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes to the DNA of a child.

2. It takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate throughout the entire body.

3. In humans, the 23rd chromosome determines gender.

4. There are 23 letters in the Latin alphabet.

5. Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times when he was assassinated.

6. The Knights Templar had 23 Grand Masters.

7. William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564.

8. William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616.

9. The Titanic sank on the morning of April 15th, 1912 (all the figures add up to 23)