Hoffman to play Giamatti's dad

Dustin Hoffman is to play Paul Giamatti's dad in a new film adaptation of Mordecai Richler's final novel.

The two acting heavyweights will team up as father and son in in indie drama 'Barney's Version', which will begin shooting in Rome, Italy in August.

Hoffman will play a retired cop who tracks down his son (Giamatti) after he becomes a "person of interest" in the mysterious disappearance of his friend, according to Daily Variety.