LOS ANGELES, CA.- Al Pacino has signed to play Salvador Dalí on the biographical film Dali & I: The Surreal Story which will be directed by Andrew Niccol. The film will focus on the 1960s-80s will tell of a mentor-protege relationship between Dali and young art dealer Stan Lauryssens. Production is scheduled to start in June.

The film will be produced by Room 9 Entertainment, which recently produced the successful political satire "Thank You for Smoking." Room 9 originally acquired "Dali" as a spec written by John Salvati, based on Stan Lauryssens' autobiographical book "Dali and I." Niccol is doing a rewrite on the script and the company is eyeing a shoot next spring. Room 9's David O. Sacks, Daniel Brunt and Michael R. Newman will produce.