Posted: Tue., Apr. 28, 2009, 4:38pm PT

'Mona Lisa' theft to hit the bigscreen

Roger Donaldson directing Phoenix adaptation

By Michael Fleming

Donaldson

Phoenix Pictures and Robert Chartoff are teaming with helmer Roger Donaldson for a screen adaptation of Seymour Reit book "The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa."

Mike Medavoy and Chartoff will produce with Lynn Hendee and Phoenix's Arnie Messer, Brad Fischer and David Thwaites.

The book centers on the theft of the world's most famous painting from the Louvre in 1911. It was missing for more than two years before an Italian carpenter named Vincent Perugia showed up with the painting in Florence. The film will center on the conman who masterminded the theft.

Phoenix is in post-production on the Martin Scorsese-directed Leonardo DiCaprio starrer "Shutter Island" for Paramount and "Shanghai" for the Weinstein Co.

Chartoff just wrapped the Julie Taymor-directed "The Tempest."