Phillip Noyce is in negotiations to direct "The Art of Making Money," a DreamWorks project about a notorious counterfeiter who printed more than $10 million in fake bills.

The WMA-repped Noyce has been eyeing as many as four projects during the past few weeks, of which "Money" is one.

The DreamWorks project centers on Art Williams, the alias of an audacious Chicago counterfeiter who printed fake $100 bills using cutting-edge techniques and continued to do so even after he had been caught by the FBI. Last year, he was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

The project is based on Jason Kersten's 2005 profile of Williams in Rolling Stone, with Kersten and Williams also under contract to write a book about the counterfeiter's colorful life.

Frank Baldwin is attached to write the screenplay, with Brian Robbins producing through his Varsity Pictures banner.

During his 30-year career, the Australian-born Noyce has worked on a diverse number of projects, from commercial films such as "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger" to prestige films like "Rabbit-Proof Fence," "The Quiet American" and his most recent release, the 2006 Tim Robbins political thriller "Catch a Fire." Noyce is also attached to helm the Philip Roth adaptation "American Pastoral" for Lakeshore.

Next up for Noyce is the period drama "Mary Queen of Scots," the Scarlett Johansson vehicle about Mary I that Par Vantage is set to release this year.

Phillip Noyce in talks for 'Money'

Looking to direct the DreamWorks project

By Steven Zeitchik

April 29, 2008, 01:00 AM