Director Michel Hazanavicius is in talks to direct Universal Pictures’ adaptation of Erik Larson’s non-fiction book In the Garden of Beasts, with star Tom Hanks apparently keen to get The Artist helmer onboard. Natalie Portman is also being eyed for the project, according to Deadline.
The film will star Tom Hanks as a Chicago professor, William Dodd, who becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany before the dictator became a threat to the world. On his first trip to Berlin, the professor soaks in the scenery with his daughter Martha (Natalie Portman), who becomes involved with some high ranking members of the Third Reich. Soon after he realises the evil intentions of the Reich and alerts the State Department, only to be met with a cold shoulder.
If Hazanavicius does come onboard, he will rewrite the script, with the hope they can shoot next year.