Hytner recently directed the piece at The National Theatre, where it received the Evening Standard, Critic's Circle and Olivier Awards for Best Play. Bennett will adapt the work into a screenplay, with The BBC, Fox Searchlight Pictures and DNA Films co-financing the screen version, and Hytner, Kevin Loader and Damian Jones producing.
In 1994, Hytner directed the screen adaptation of Bennett's The Madness of King George, which starred the Oscar-nominated Nigel Hawthorne in spite of studio heads lobbying for Al Pacino to win the title role. On Broadway, Hytner helmed Miss Saigon, the Royal National Theatre production of Carousel (Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical), Twelth Night, Sweet Smell of Success and the RNT production of Jumpers. Bennett's other plays include Talking Heads, Habeas Corpus and Beyond the Fringe.
The History Boys will commence shooting in Manchester (for the exterior of the school) and London in July.