According to Variety, Dustin Hoffman is in final negotiations to play the lead role in New Line comedy Father Knows Less.

The film follows a hugely successful exec already on his second marriage who finds himself in charge of family affairs he'd previously delegated to his trophy wife, who's just dumped him. Studio is also in final negotiations with "Cheaper By The Dozen" helmer Shawn Levy to helm.The script is based on a pitch by Aline Brosh McKenna, who penned New Line's Pierce Brosnan-Julianne Moore starrer Laws of Attraction.

Hoffman is also attached to Head Case at New Line, with the studio recently hiring Jim Burnstein and Garrett Schiff to rewrite the project, which has been in development since 2001. Hoffman's other upcoming pics include Stranger Than Fiction for Mandate Pictures and Sony and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.