Fashion designer Tom Ford to direct film

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. fashion designer Tom Ford has signed on to make his directorial debut with the independent film "A Single Man," starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

Variety.com said Ford -- the former creative director of Gucci who established his own Tom Ford clothing line in 2005 -- will also produce the movie through his Fade to Black production company.

Based on Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel, the film is about a gay college professor (Firth) whose partner of 16 years dies. Matthew Goode plays his late boyfriend as seen through flashbacks and Moore plays the grieving man's close friend, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The movie is scheduled to start shooting in Los Angeles next week, Variety.com said.