MIRAMAX - SILVER LINING FOR DIRECTOR DAVID O RUSSELL

SILVER LINING FOR DIRECTOR DAVID O RUSSELL

Famously unpredictable director David O Russell has been signed up to direct The Silver Linings Playbook for the Weinstein Company.

The Three Kings helmer will also adapt Matthew Quick's debut novel for the New York studio, Variety reports.

The book tells of former high school teacher Pat Peoples who, following his release from a four-year stay in a mental institution, moves back in with his mother and looks to reconcile with his ex-wife.

The novel was published in September and its big screen adaptation will be produced by Michael Raimo.

No casting has yet been confirmed.

The film will be Russell's first project with the Weinsteins since 1996's Flirting With Disaster, which was released by Miramax.

Russell, who also directed Spanking the Monkey, is renowned for his unorthodox onset methods and a viral video of him berating actress Lily Tomlin on the set of I Heart Huckabees became an internet hit.

His most recent project, Nailed, starring Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal, was marred by financial problems during its shoot and is still awaiting release.