Thieves steal Francis Ford Coppola script

The screenplay for a forthcoming gangster-themed thriller by Francis Ford Coppola has been stolen from the writer-director's office in Argentina.

In addition to cameras and computers, a laptop owned by the man who brought audiences The Godfather was taken by the criminals - reported to be a group of five armed burglars.

The script contained on the portable was for Tetro, a tale of rival Italian-Argentine families and set to star Matt Dillon.

It is scheduled to begin production in the country's capital next year, with a release date expected in 2009.

According to the Internet Movie Database, Spanish actor Javier Bardem is also rumoured to be joining the cast, which marks Coppola's second directorial effort in over ten years, following Youth Without Youth in 2007 and The Rainmaker in 1997.

In the meantime, Coppola has served as executive producer projects such as cult TV series The 4400 and last year's motion picture Marie Antoinette, which was directed by his daughter Sofia Coppola.

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