WALTER MATTHAU AS `MR. WILSON'

Academy Award-winner Walter Matthau will star as the irascible Mr. Wilson in a movie version of the long-running comic strip "Dennis the Menace."

Sheduled to begin production this summer, the film will be produced by John Hughes and Dick Vane for Warner Bros. under the direction of Patrick Reed Johnson.Based on characters created by cartoonist Hank Ketcham, the "Dennis the Menace" screenplay was written by John H. Limerick. Warner Bros. did not announce casting of the other principals.