Dustin Hoffman has been signed up to star in the feature film adaptation of Patrick Suskind's international best seller 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer'.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story, set in 18th- century France, is about Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, played by Ben Whishaw, who is born scentless, but possesses an extraordinary sense of smell. He apprentices himself to a perfume maker, played by Hoffman, and sets out to re-create unusual scents.

Grenouille's obsession turns to murder when he seeks to bottle the scent of a beautiful young virgin, played by Alan Rickman.

'Run Lola Run' director Tom Tykwer will direct the movie and the production is scheduled to begin in June this year.