Irish eyes smile on DreamWorks' 'Ikiru' remake

Sheridan takes on possible Hanks vehicle

By MICHAEL FLEMING, NICOLE LAPORTE

"In America" director Jim Sheridan has signed on to direct "Ikiru," the DreamWorks remake of the 1952 Akira Kurosawa film that is being crafted as a potential starring vehicle for Tom Hanks.

DreamWorks' Walter Parkes and Stone Village's Scott Steindorff are producing.

The updated drama has been scripted by "Freedomland" author Richard Price. Sheridan will work with the writer to hone his script.

Sheridan will shoot "Ikiru" in Gotham. It's the story of a low-level bureaucrat who discovers that after 30 years in the same job, he's contracted stomach cancer. Determined to seek more from the remaining moments of his life, the man initially seeks out decadent pursuits before deciding he wants to leave behind something memorable.

The remake rights to "Ikiru" were bought two years ago by Steindorff, who is currently prepping an adaptation of the T.C. Boyle novel "The Tortilla Curtain" with Kevin Costner and Meg Ryan starring.

Sheridan has not yet selected his next project.

Hanks next stars in the Robert Zemeckis-directed "Polar Express," produced by Playtone and Castle Rock for Warner Bros.

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