Streep, Hoffman on board for 'Doubt'

HOLLYWOOD, April 20 (UPI) -- Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman will star in the film adaptation of "Doubt," scheduled to begin production in New York in December.

John Patrick Shanley adapted his Pulitzer- and Tony-award winning play for the screen and is slated to direct, Variety reported Friday.

Set in 1964, "Doubt" takes place in a Bronx Catholic school, where the principal (Streep), a nun who's a strict disciplinarian, lodges accusations of pedophilia against a popular priest (Hoffman).

Streep finished "Rendition" and the Robert Redford-directed "Lions for Lambs." She next stars in the screen adaptation of the musical "Mamma Mia!" with Pierce Brosnan.

Hoffman completed "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," directed by Sidney Lumet, and "Charlie Wilson's War," directed by Mike Nichols and starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Next for him is "Synecdoche, New York."