Maggie Smith’s ‘The Lady in the Van’ to release in December

Maggie Smith will play Miss Mary Shepherd, an eccentric woman of uncertain origins in ‘The Lady in the Van’.

Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith-starrer “The Lady in the Van” is set to have an award-qualifying release this December. Nicholas Hytner is directing the film, which is an adaptation of Alan Bennett’s West End hit, said The Hollywood Reporter.

Smith is reprising her role from the stage version. She will play Miss Mary Shepherd, an eccentric woman of uncertain origins, who “temporarily” parked her broken-down van in Bennett’s London driveway — and proceeded to live there for the next 15 years.

In the film version, Alex Jennings, who plays Bennett, stars along with Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent and James Corden. Damian Jones and Kevin Loader produced, along with Hytner. The film will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival (September 10-20).