Deepa Mehta will direct "Masterpiece," which has a script by Donald Martin. The work will explore the modern painter and sculptor's relationship with his nurse and muse, Monique Bourgeois.

Todd Black, Steve Tisch and Jason Blumenthal are attached to produce for Escape Features. Chris Coggins is a co-producer of the film, which is still in development.

Pacino earned critical acclaim for his performance as Shylock in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice, which transferred to Broadway in September. It will conclude its run Feb. 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Prior to Merchant, Pacino last appeared on Broadway in Oscar Wilde's Salome: The Reading. He earned a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in Does a Tiger Wear Necktie? and was also with a Tony Award for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. Pacino starred in the 1996 production of Hughie, which he also directed. In addition to his stage roles in Camino Real, King Richard III, American Buffalo and Chinese Coffee, he is well known for the films "Scent of a Woman" (Academy Award), "The Godfather," "Scarface," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Frankie and Johnny," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Ocean's Thirteen" and "Angels in America."