Overture Films has recently set Oscar winning thespian Philip Seymour Hoffman to try his hand at directing with their adaptation of Bob Glaudini's Off Broadway play,Jack Goes Boating. Variety describes it as a unique romantic comedy in New York City, involving swimming lessons, cooking classes, and drugs.

Hoffman will also star in the picture, as will Gone Baby Gone's Amy Ryan. John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega will reprise their parts from the original production.

While this is Hoffman's first directorial bout, this is not his first time producing. His company, Cooper's Town produced Capote - the film that helped him earn his first Oscar.

Philip Seymour Hoffman has wowed us with numerous performances in the past, so here's hoping he's learned a few things from directors like Charlie Kaufman, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Anthony Minghella. Filming is set to begin in NYC on February 9th. Here's the complete press release ...

(Beverly Hills, CA) January 15, 2009– Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega are set to star in Jack Goes Boating, adapted from the well-received off-Broadway production written by Bob Glaudini and originally produced by LAByrinth Theater Company. The film will also mark the directorial debut of Hoffman.

The announcement was made by Overture Films’ CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett along with Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf of Big Beach. The film is being co-financed and produced by Big Beach. Turtletaub and Saraf will produce along with independent producer Beth O’Neil and Emily Ziff of Cooper’s Town Productions with Hoffman and Ortiz executive producing. Overture will distribute the film domestically.

Oscar®-nominee Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) is slated to star opposite Hoffman while Ortiz (American Gangster) and Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s Rent) reprise their stage roles in the film. The ensemble piece, which debuted at Hoffman’s and Ortiz’s LAByrinth Theater Company, is an unconventional romantic comedy set in New York City. Upon its debut in 2007, it was described as “a story of date panic, marital meltdown, betrayal and the prevailing grace of the human spirit," that happened to be, “laced with cooking classes, swimming lessons and a smorgasbord of illegal drugs.“

“It is beyond gratifying to see this film come to life and we could not be in better hands than with Overture and Big Beach as our partners,“ said Hoffman.

"Phil directing a great script with this amazing cast is the perfect fulfillment of Big Beach's mission,” said Saraf. “We are thrilled to be partnered again with our good friends at Overture."

In June, Overture announced a production deal with Hoffman’s and Ziff’s Cooper’s Town Productions. Jack Goes Boating is the first film the two companies will produce together.

"Phil is such a unique talent and this opportunity to work his creative mojo not just in front of the camera but also from the director's chair is just irresistible for us,” said Rosett. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Cooper’s Town and Big Beach to help tell this fun story."

Jack Goes Boating is currently in pre-production and is scheduled to start principal photography on February 9th in New York City.