UPDATE TUES SEPT 2 2014: The Weinstein Company has picked up this project worldwide. I broke the news of this film back in July 2013.
Here’s the original story:
Exclusive: “Esiotrot” is tortoise spelled backwards. It’s also the title of a very popular 1990 Roald Dahl illustrated children’s story that involves a love story between two mature adults. And I can tell you that Dustin Hoffman and Dame Judi Dench are going to play the main characters. “Esiotrot” will film next month in England. Hoffman told me he’s a little nervous. “She’s Judi Dench!” But something tells me these two will hit it off famously. Dearbhla Walsh, who won the 2010 Emmy Award for Best Mini Series, “Little Dorrit,” will direct…This should be interesting since the book’s description makes it sound like a tough translation to film…Dench, by the way, may be on her way to a second Oscar next March 2014…She’s the star of Stephen Frears’ “Philomena” and will be very much in the Oscar race this winter thanks to a big push by Harvey Weinstein…
