Director Nicholas Hytner and writer Alan Bennett have forged a fruitful collaboration through the years, particularly when they work together on Bennett’s stage plays. That has extended to cinema with The History Boys and the pair is looking to repeat the trick with an adaptation of The Lady In The Van, starring Maggie Smith{
The actress, who has won a new gaggle of fans thanks to her caustic put-downs on Downtown Abbey, will reprise her role from the play on film, starring as Miss Shepherd. She’s based on a real eccentric who parked her van in Bennett’s Camden driveway and then lived there for 15 years. Hytner has Alex Jennings set to tackle the dual role of Bennett and his alter ego, AB.
The project, which has the backing of BBC Films and TriStar Productions, also features a reunion for the team that brought both History Boys and** The Madness Of King George** to cinema screens, with Tom Rothman once again working as producer. Hytner should be rolling the cameras this October in London, aiming at a late 2015 release date.