A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : LEGENDS : David Lean’s Last Project Still Going

“Nostromo,” the $43-million international epic that was to be directed by Sir David Lean, seemed to have died with the legendary director last April 16. Or did it?

Although TriStar, which had committed $7 million in exchange for the North American distribution rights, has “no more involvement in the project,” according to a company spokesman, Lean’s producer Serge Silberman “is producing the film (which) is going ahead,” Lean’s widow, Sandra, said from her London home this week.

Based on the 1904 Joseph Conrad novel, “Nostromo” tells a story of greed in a fictitious Central American country. Lean had been working on the script since 1987 with his “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago” collaborator Robert Bolt after first writing a version with Christopher Hampton.

“The sets were being built at the Victorine Studios in Nice when David died,” said Lean’s biographer Stephen M. Silverman.

According to Lean biographer Stephen M. Silverman, the cast included Dennis Quaid, Julian Sands, Isabella Rossellini, Irene Papas, Paul Scofield and Anthony Quinn. No word yet as to whether they would still be involved.

When Lean died, TriStar canceled the production and, after some negotiation, rights reverted back to Paris-based producer Silberman (Kurosawa’s “Ran”), who could not be reached for comment.

Sandra Lean said “no comment” when asked who might direct; there are reports that Francis Ford Coppola or Martin Scorsese are favored. Spokespeople for both directors declined comment.

If the film comes back to life, Lean’s widow said, “I’m going to be involved because I watched David (preparing) it for six years. I was with him every moment when he wrote the script and was trying to get it off the ground. It’s a fire in me to get this film done.’