Director Ridley Scott (Alien (1979), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000)) has revealed his new project – an adaptation of Patrick Suskind's brilliant dark novel, Perfume.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker, whose last movie was last year's Black Hawk Down (2002), has confirmed he will direct the screen adaptation of the book, but offers no clue as to who he might like to see in the leading role. 'Perfume is about a boy, Grenouille, who is born with an exceptionally developed olfactory organ and therefore kills people to steal their body odour.
I have two or three candidates in mind who are suitable for the role of Grenouille. Who they are? I won't tell yet. If names are revealed now, their salary will boom sky high.' Scott's summary is somewhat cursory, but Grenouille's a juicy part which is bound to be fiercely contested. Movie Bites reckons it'll go to Russell Crowe, Robert De Niro, or possibly outside choice Ryan Phillippe.

Source: Press Release