Dustin Hoffman is in final negotiations to make his directorial debut, filming an adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s 1999 stage comedy “Quartet.”
Set to star Maggie Smith, Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay, the story follows four retired opera singers living in a retirement home, who decide to sing once more at a gala concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday. Harwood, who won an Oscar for his screenplay for “The Pianist,” will be adapting his play for the big screen. There’s no word on who will be playing the fourth singer, but perhaps it will be Hoffman himself?
Hoffman is still getting financing in place, but is close to sealing the deal with “An Education” producer Finola Dwyer, and already has the backing of BBC Films. If everything gets into place quickly, Hoffman will look to get the film in front of cameras later this year, most likely after he wraps work on the Michael Mann/David Milch HBO show “Luck.”
