HOFFMAN, THOMPSON TAKE A 'CHANCE' (VAR, THR)

By Nancy Vialatte

Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson will star in Overture Films' romantic drama "Last Chance Harvey," with shooting set to start in London in September. The duo will be directed by Joel Hopkins from his own script in what is the fourth film announced on Overture�s slate since the company was started late last year by Chris McGurk and backed by Starz and Liberty Media.

Overture's strategy calls for an annual slate of eight to 12 features with budgets up to $30 million. Its first acquisition came in January zhen it bought U.S. rights to "Ferris Wheel," with Charlize Theron. It's also in active development on "105 Degrees and Rising" with Echo Lake Entertainment and is in production on caper comedy "Mad Money" with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes.

�Chance�s� story is about a man down on his luck who finds an unlikely female companion while in London attending his daughter's wedding. Hopkins penned the screenplay with Hoffman and Thompson in mind for the characters.

"While writing the script, it was always my dream for Dustin and Emma to play these characters, but I never imagined I'd actually be fortunate enough to see that dream come true," Hopkins said.

Tim Perell and Nicola Usborne will produce with Jawal Nga exec producing.

Hoffman and Thompson both starred in "Stranger Than Fiction." He's in the upcoming "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and Thompson will be seen in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."