Ending weeks of speculation, Germany'sConstantin Film Produktion has now officially confirmed that US star DustinHoffman will play one of the leads in Tom Tykwer's forthcoming adaptation ofPatrick Sueskind's international bestseller Perfume.

Hoffman has been cast as the perfumer GiuseppeBaldini, with the young UK actor Ben Whishaw (Enduring Love) taking onthe part of the main figure Grenouille and Alan Rickman cast as Grenouille'sopponent Antoine Richis.

Shooting on the European co-production is set tobegin on July 12 at locations near Barcelona and the South of France as well ashaving studio work at Munich's Bavaria Film Studios.