Dustin Wants To Direct

Nearly 50 years after he catapulted to superstardom playing the existentially challenged young man in THE GRADUATE, it seems that veteran actor Dustin Hoffman just wants to direct. Word comes out of London that the two-time Oscar winner (KRAMER VS. KRAMER, RAIN MAN) is mounting his first feature film as a director that will be both British in origin and in casting. Hoffman will make his directorial debut with QUARTET, a big-screen adaptation of the hit Ronald Harwood play, which follows four opera singers in a retirement home who decide to hold a concert in celebration of the great composer Verdi. The cast announced so far is a who’s who of veteran British acting talents, including Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Pauline Collins (SHIRLEY VALENTINE) and comic/actor Billy Connolly (who takes over from an ailing Peter O’Toole). The film also features a representative of the new generation of British acting talent with the inclusion of youthful British stage actress Sheridan Smith, who recently won an Olivier award for her turn in the West End version of  LEGALLY BLONDE. Filming starts this month in London with a release sometime in late 2012. Expect this to be a staple at major film festivals, where audiences will be curious about the latent directorial talents of the 77-year old Hoffman, who still apparently has a few tricks up his sleeve.

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