Scott Rudin to Bring Shanley's 'Doubt' to the Screen

Variety reports that John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt will receive a big screen adaptation.

With a screenplay and direction by Shanley (who won an Oscar for his Moonstruck screenplay), the film will be produced by Scott Rudin for Miramax.  Shooting will likely begin in fall of 2007.

No casting has yet been announced for the project, but producers will soon begin the casting process.  Shanley stated that there would be considerable filming on location for the movie version of the play, which is set in a Bronx parochial school.  While the play only featured four actors, the film's cast will be expanded to include the black student who has reputedly been sexually abused by Father Flynn.  Other students will also feature as minor characters.

"Set against the backdrop of a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, the show is the story of a strong-minded woman faced with a difficult decision. Should she voice concerns about one of her male colleagues…even if she's not entirely certain of the truth?," stated press notes for the show's Broadway run.

Doubt opened on Broadway on March 9th, 2005 and ran through July 2nd, 2006; it had originally played a hit run at Manhattan Theatre Club.  With a Tony-winning performances by Cherry Jones and Adriane Lenox, and Tony-nominated work by Brian F. O'Byrne, the show won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play in addition to the Pulitzer Prize.  Doug Hughes won a Tony for directing the play.

The show is currently playing a national tour, starring Jones.

Rudin's previous film producing credits include The Queen, Notes on a Scandal, Closer, I Heart Huckabees, Wonder Boys, Sleepy Hollow, The Truman Show, Clueless, The Addams Family and Pacific Heights.