Calista Flockhart, Bill Irwin, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, Gregory Jbara and Michelle Pfeiffer are set to star in a new big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, to be directed by Michael Hoffman and released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in spring, 1999.

The project has been in the works for some time. Variety reported April 7 on the casting of Tucci (Big Night) as Puck.

This is at least the 17th filming of the comic fantasy about supernatural creatures who play tricks on two pairs of lovers and a troupe of amateur rate actors who wander into their woods one midsummer night.

Hoffman adapted the script from Shakespeare's play, and relocated the action to Italy at the dawn of the 20th century.

Here is some of the major casting: Rupert Everett as Oberon, Calista Flockhart as Helena, Anna Friel as Hermia, Bill Irwin as Tom Snout, Gregory Jbara as Snub the Joiner, Kevin Kline as Bottom, Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania, Sam Rockwell as Flute.