Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins start work on 'The Dresser'

LONDON, March 3 (UPI) -- Production has officially begun in London on the television movie The Dresser, Starz and the BBC announced Tuesday.

The small-screen adaptation of Ronald Harwood's play marks the first time Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen will appear together in a film.

The cast will also include Emily Watson, Sarah Lancashire, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Brooke and Edward Fox.

The Dresser tells the story of "one fateful night in a small regional theater during World War II as a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeare's King Lear," a synopsis said.

"Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour, but the actor/manager Sir, who is playing Lear, is nowhere to be seen. His dresser Norman must scramble to keep the production alive, but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night?"

Hopkins, McKellen and director Richard Eyre have all previously worked on stagings of King Lear. Hopkins played the titular monarch at The National Theatre under the direction of David Hare in 1986 and McKellen portrayed the part in Trevor Nunn's production for the RSC in 2007. Eyre directed a production of the play with Ian Holm for the National Theatre in 1997.