As previously reported, Jackman, an Oscar nominee for his performance in the film version of Les Miserables, told Yahoo Movies that he was recently asked to play the role of Aldolpho, the part created on Broadway by Danny Burstein, who received a Tony nomination for his performance.
In a Nov. 13 interview with Entertainment Weekly, singing actor Jackman said, "I loved the original production on Broadway — incredibly funny and terrific, great fun. I was not sure how that would translate [to film], but the script at the moment is wonderful. I think they’re trying to put the movie together, I don’t think it’s fully together yet, but they are talking to me about it, and I’m very interested in it."
CBC News previously reported that Rush, who was most recently seen on Broadway in Exit the King, will star in the film version of Chaperone. Rush also played Man in Chair in the Australian premiere of the musical, which was seen at the Melbourne Theatre Company in January 2010. Simon Philips directed the production Down Under.
Don McKellar, who co-wrote the Drowsy book with original star Bob Martin, said Rush will executive produce the film musical. Shooting is expected to begin next year.
McKellar previously told the Globe and Mail, "We saw [Rush in Drowsy] and he was excellent – and also he's an excellent person. We're pretty excited about being involved with him. . .He is incredibly Man in Chair-like. When he was a little boy, instead of playing with trucks, he was making model theatres out of shoeboxes." Geoffrey Rush won an Academy Award for his performance in "Shine" and was also Oscar-nominated for his roles in "Shakespeare in Love," "Quills" and "The King's Speech."
The Drowsy Chaperone has Tony-winning music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Gregg Morrison and a Tony-winning book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. The five-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy made its final toast Dec. 30, 2007, at the Marquis Theatre following 674 performances and 32 previews.