Dustin Hoffman to star in big-budget German film

By Jack Kindred Jul 15, 2005, 13:02 GMT

Munich - Following the blockbuster success of comedy "Meet the Fockers", Munich producer Bernd Eichinger has lured Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman to headline his 60-million-dollar project "Perfume" based on Patrick Sueskind's bestselling 1980s novel.

The 67-year-old Hoffman, who achieved star status with his 1967 movie "The Graduate" and who won an Oscar for his role in "Rain Man", had been somewhat neglected recently in Tinseltown, with moguls alleging he was past his prime.

But the actor achieved a stunning comeback with his role in last year's long-awaited sequel to "Meet the Parents", a rollicking comedy involving an eccentric family which in the U.S. grossed a cool 279 million dollars in box office returns.

Sueskind's 1985 book portrays a man, Grenouille, living in the 18th Century Baroque costume world of King Louis XV. Born in a fish market and with no bodily scent himself but with an incomparable sense of smell, Grenouille develops an obsession with discovering the ultimate perfume.

In attempting to achieve his goal, he becomes a serial killer. The German novel, translated into 42 languages, has posted worldwide sales of more than 12 million copies.

Shooting on the screen version, directed by Tom Tykwer, who shot to prominence with "Run Lola Run", has started in Munich at Bavaria Film's Studio 12.

Hoffman plays the role of the master perfumer Guiseppe Baldini, while Ben Whisaw ("Enduring Love") embodies Grenouille, the murderer of women.

Whisaw was recently acclaimed for his performance of "Hamlet" in London's West End.

Others cast in the project include London actress Rachel Hurd-Wood and Germany's Karoline Herfurth.

Hoffman reportedly was very impressed after reading the English- language screenplay written by Eichinger, Andrew Birkin and Tykwer.

Asked at a press conference whether a movie could duplicate the enormous success of the book, Eichinger said: "The film has everything. Even though Grenouille as a serial muderer is hardly the ideal film hero, everyone who has read the book can somehow identify with him as an unrecognized genius."

It took over 20 years, but it was a feather in the producer's cap when he succeeded in obtaining the film rights to "Perfume" in 2001 after the publicity-shy author, who lives in isolation in Munich, had turned down offers from the likes of such Hollywood luminaries as Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Milos Forman.

Although Eichinger and his production company Constantin remain mum on the cost of the rights, trade sources estimate that it could have reached up to ten million dollars.

Bavaria Film's set replicates Baldini's perfumery at the Pont au Chance. An octagonal room is seen stuffed with bottles, flacons, and glass cylinders, with an ornate silver-framed fountain in the center.

Eichinger recently extended his producer contract with Constantin Film AG until March 31, 2009. The 56 year-old producer-director- scriptwriter is one of Germany's "big" filmmakers with a reputation for risk-taking, high-budget movies targeted international markets.

His credits include such international hits as "The NeverEnding Story", "The Name of the Rose", "The House of the Spirits", and Smilla's Sense of Snow", as well as "Resident Evil" and its sequel "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," which drew global box office receipts of more than 250 million U.S. dollars.

His "Downfall" on the last days of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler pulled in 75 million dollars internationally and was nominated as Germany's choice in the Academy Award sector of Best Foreign Film.

"Perfume" is scheduled for release in September 2006. Producer Steven Spielberg's company Dreamworks SKG reportedly is to handle distribution chores in the United States.