Shekhar Kapur, the Indian-born helmer of movies such as Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, will direct one of the last pieces of writing from the late Anthony Minghella, a segment of the urban ode New York, I Love You.

Minghella had written but not cast or shot his segment of the episodic film, which was to have begun shooting in April in Manhattan.

The Hollywood Reporter says, last week producers said they were awaiting word from the family before making a decision. According to Kapur, Minghella asked the director to carry out his work shortly before the "English Patient" director went in for surgery two weeks ago. "He told me his film was about the value of life and how people sometimes just throw away their lives, unable to look beyond into the real beauty of it," Kapur wrote on his blog. "I will direct the film now -- with Anthony in my heart and in presence of his soul."

Sources confirmed Kapur was indeed attached to the segment.

Kapur is best known for his twin Elizabeth pictures, which earned an Oscar nomination for star Cate Blanchett and a Golden Globe nom for him. He's also attached to direct the adaptation of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series for Fox.