Dustin Hoffman's Directorial Debut

Dustin Hoffman's Directorial Debut

Dustin Hoffman is to direct a film.

The 72-year-old actor is in the final stages of negotiations to helm 'Quartet', a movie about a retirement home for opera singers in the Home Counties of England.

Dame Maggie Smith, Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay are set to star in the movie, which will begin filming later this year, the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports.

Finola Dwyer, who produced Oscar-nominated 'An Education' starring Carey Mulligan, is expected to fill the producer role on the movie.

'Quartet' is based on a 1999 theatre comedy of the same name and was written by Ronald Harwood, who has previously worked on 'Australia', 'The Pianist' and 'Being Julia'.

Dustin's illustrious film career has calmed in recent years, although he has won two Oscars during his career, most recently for 1997 movie 'Wag the Dog', starring Kirsten Dunst, Robert De Niro and Anne Heche.

His most recent film venture was opposite Emma Thompson in 2008 romantic drama 'Last Chance Harvey'.

He was expected to star in bird-watching movie 'The Big Year' but the role has now gone to Steve Martin.