Popcorn.co.uk are reporting that John Cusack will be playing a role in a very controversial project on the eary life of Adolf Hitler:
'Hoffman' will examine the relationship between the young Führer and his Jewish art teacher, who apparently failed to encourage his artistic ambitions - one reason offered as to why the sociopathic politician went on to lead Germany into World War II and the Holocaust.
Cusack had high praise for Menno Meyjes' screenplay, telling Variety: "[It is] the best script I've read since 'Being John Malkovich'".
Movies that might take an empathetic approach to the Nazi dictator are likely to spark controversy and Dutch director Paul Verhoeven has previously been pilloried for his long-harboured desire to portray the young Hitler on screen - although it's probably a fair assumption that Meyjes' film will be a good deal subtler than anything the creator of 'Showgirls' could offer.
'Hoffman' will be directed by its writer, who is also developing a project for Steven Spielberg - a biopic of American aviator Charles Lindbergh.
Cusack is currently working on 'America's Sweethearts' with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Julia Roberts. The Billy Crystal-penned comedy, about a bickering movie star couple, will be released later this year.