Kidman and Dench May Be Part of "Nine" Film
By Ernio Hernandez
04 Apr 2008
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Dame Judi Dench
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| photo by Aubrey Reuben | Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench are reportedly in talks to appear in Rob Marshall's upcoming film version of the Broadway musical Nine, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actresses would join Academy Award winners Javier Bardem and Marion Cotillard as well as Penelope Cruz and Sophia Loren in the project. The trade magazine says the film will tentatively begin shooting in September. The Weinstein Company could not be reached at press time.
Michael Tolkin ("The Player," "Deep Impact") adapted the award-winning Broadway musical for the screen. The late Anthony Minghella ("The English Patient") was said to be polishing some of the writing. (Minghella had worked with Marshall previously on "Memoirs of a Geisha.")
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Bardem ("No Country for Old Men," "Before Night Falls") fills the central male role of Guido in "Nine." The women who haunt him include Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose," "Love Me If You Dare") as wife Luisa, Cruz ("Vovler," "Vanilla Sky") as mistress Carla and Loren ("Man of La Mancha," "El Cid") as his mother.
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Inspired by Federico Fellini's "8-1/2," Nine features a score by Maury Yeston and libretto by Arthur Kopit. The work centers on an Italian director who is haunted by the many women in his life just as his career is in jeopardy. The Weinstein Co. will produce the Lucamar Productions film. John DeLuca will choreograph with Marshall.
"It's a gorgeous score, and we're reworking it for film, so it's really a new book," Marshall previously explained to Playbill.com columnist Harry Haun (Aug. 19, 2007).
The original Broadway production of Nine garnered a dozen Tony Award nominations in 1982, including acting nods for stars Raul Julia, Karen Akers, Anita Morris and Liliane Montevecchi — the latter three all in the Featured Actress category. Tommy Tune took home a Tony for Best Direction as did Yeston for his score, William Ivey Long for his costume design and Montevecchi for her performance. The musical itself earned the 1982 Tony Award for Best Musical.
Film stars Antonio Banderas and Mary Stuart Masterson starred in the 2003 Broadway revival as Guido and Luisa Contini with Jane Krakowksi (as Carla), Laura Benanti (as Claudia), Mary Beth Peil (as Guido's mother) and Chita Rivera (as agent Liliane La Fleur). The David Leveaux staging won Krakowski a Tony and took home the Best Musical Revival prize as well.
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