THE DATING SET

Just as the ink was drying on the $1 million-plus deal that will team newlyweds Sean Penn and Madonna in the comedy “Blind Date,” Outtakes learned that Tri-Star is about to sign Richard Benjamin as director. (Benjamin just completed “The Money Pit” for Universal-Spielberg.)

Producer David Permut steadfastly refused to comment on the Benjamin signing, but sources close to the negotiations say the deal has been structured and Benjamin is very high on the project. Asked to confirm or deny, a Tri-Star spokeswoman said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”