Maggie Smith to star in film version of ‘The Lady in the Van’
By Sam Rigby
Maggie Smith will lead the cast of the forthcoming film adaptation of The Lady In The Van.
The Downton Abbey actress will reprise the role of Miss Shepherd, which she played in the 1999 stage adaptation of Alan Bennett‘s memoir, Deadline reports.
Bennett wrote The Lady In The Van about an elderly woman who parked her van in his driveway one day and remained there for the next 15 years.
Director Nicholas Hytner is taking charge of the project, after previously directing film adaptations of Bennett’s The Madness of King George and The History Boys. He also directed the West End version of The Lady In The Van.
Tom Rothman’s newly launched TriStar Productions are working with BBC Films on the adaptation.
On Smith’s casting, Rothman said: “She is the lady in the van. I honestly don’t think that Alan or Nick would have wanted to do it without her.”
The Lady In The Van will go into production in London this October, with a worldwide release scheduled for late 2015.
> Sue Johnston cast as Maggie Smith’s maid in ‘Downton’
> Maggie Smith confirmed to return for new ‘Downton Abbey’