Al Pacino and Cillian Murphy have signed onto “Dali & I: The Surreal Story.” In the film Al Pacino will play the famous Surrealist painter Salvador Dali and Cillian Murphy will play his young art dealer named Stan Lauryssens. The film will be directed by Andrew Niccol.

The movie, which will span the 1960s-80s, follows the time in Dali’s life when most of his great work was behind him and he became more flamboyant. Dali also developed a mentor-protege relationship with a young art dealer named Stan Lauryssens, who will be played by Murphy.

Room 9 originally acquired the project as a spec written by John Salvati, based on Lauryssens’ autobiographical book “Dali and I.” Niccol rewrote the script.

“Dali” is scheduled to begin shooting in early 2008 on location in Spain and New York.