British director John Madden is teaming up with Fox Searchlight and Participant Media for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel, according to Variety.

The storyline follows a group of British retirees who are lured by enticing advertisements to live out their days in India at the recently restored Marigold Hotel, a former palace. Though their environs turn out to be far less luxurious than billed, their lives are transformed by shared experiences.

Ol Parker and Deborah Moggach wrote the script, based on Deborah Moggach's novel "These Foolish Things."

John Madden will begin production Sunday in India.