Hazanavicius Directs "In The Garden Of Beasts"

Filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist") is in talks to direct an adaptation of author Erik Larson’s World War II non-fiction best-seller book "In The Garden Of Beasts" says Deadline.

The book tells the true story of US Ambassador William Dodd (Tom Hanks) in 1933 Berlin, whose daughter became romantically involved with several high-ranking members of the Third Reich. Initially naive about Nazi Germany the Dodd family came to understand that violent fascism indeed lay beneath Adolf Hitler's eroding nationalism.

Natalie Portman is wanted to play Hanks' daughter in the film, but she is not set as things are still early. Hazanavicius is going to work on a draft with a yet-to-be-hired writer.

Hanks would produce the pic with Gary Goetzman but may also take the starring role as well.

The project continues Hanks' interest in World War II that has seen him produce the Emmy-winning miniseries Band of Brothers, The Pacific and star in 1998's Saving Private Ryan as Capt. John H. Miller.