Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Dustin Hoffman is in negotiations to join Johnny Depp in Miramax Films' "J.M. Barrie's Neverland." The project, to be directed by "Monster's Ball" helmer Marc Forster, will go into production in the summer in London.

Depp will star as "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie in the true story of how Barrie wrote his classic story during the 1800s in England after bonding with four fatherless children who lived next door to him, essentially becoming their surrogate father. Hoffman would play Charles Frohman, the real-life financial backer and producer of Barrie's productions -- including "Peter Pan" -- who was one of Barrie's few close friends outside his domestic circle. Frohman was considered the best producer of Barrie's work, and when the producer died on the Lusitania, Barrie never quite recovered from the loss, both personally and professionally. Julie Christie, Kate Winslet and Radha Mitchell also star.

Miramax-based Richard Gladstein is producing the project through his studio-based FilmColony. The company's Gary Binkow is executive producing with Nellie Bellflower. "Neverland" is written by David Magee, based on Allan Knee's play "The Man Who Was Peter Pan."

Hoffman, repped by Endeavor and Artists Management Group/The Firm, recently wrapped shooting Lions Gate Films' "Confidence." He next stars in the Walt Disney Co.'s "Moonlight Mile" (aka "Baby's in Black").