Lane and Broderick to Star in Producers Film

By Andrew Gans
06 Jan 2004

Nathan Lane (left) and Matthew Broderick in The Producers
Nathan Lane (left) and Matthew Broderick in The Producers
Photo by Paul Kolnick

They may be back on Broadway, but Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are Hollywood-bound.Variety reports that the two original stars of Broadway's Producers have signed deals to star in the upcoming film of the Mel Brooks musical, which began life as a non-musical film starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder.

The industry paper reports that Broderick and Lane have signed "mid-seven-figure deals" to star in the Universal Pictures film.

Filming will begin in early 2005, and the movie — based on the Broadway musical — is due in cinemas in late 2005. Brooks, co-writer Thomas Meehan and director Susan Stroman are also on board; the latter will helm the piece as she did for Broadway.

The original 1968 movie about a conniving producer starred Zero Mostel as producer Max Bialystock and Gene Wilder as Leo Bloom. Others in the cast included Kenneth Mars as Franz Liebkind, Renée Taylor as Eva Braun, Christopher Hewett as Roger De Bris, Lee Meredith as Ulla and Andréas Voutsinas as Carmen Giya. Mel Brooks won an Academy Award Awards for Best Screenplay for "The Producers," and Gene Wilder was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

In addition to his Tony-winning roles in The Producers and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Nathan Lane has starred on The Great White Way in Present Laughter, Merlin, The Wind in the Willows, Some Americans Abroad, On Borrowed Time, Guys and Dolls, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Love! Valour! Compassion! and The Man Who Came to Dinner. The actor has also been featured in such films as "Addams Family Values," "Mousehunt," "Love's Labour's Lost" and "The Birdcage," scoring a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the latter. He was recently seen in the film adaptation of "Nicholas Nickleby."

Matthew Broderick received Tony Awards for his performances in Brighton Beach Memoirs and the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He was also Tony-nominated for his work in The Producers, and his other theatre credits include Biloxi Blues, Night Must Fall, Taller Than a Dwarf, On Valentine's Day, Torch Song Trilogy and The Widow Claire. His many film credits include "Max Dugan Returns," "War Games," "1918," "On Valentine's Day," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Project X," "Ladyhawke," "Biloxi Blues," "Glory," "Family Business," T"he Freshman," "The Night We Never Met," "The Cable Guy," "Addicted to Love," "Godzilla," "Inspector Gadget," "Election" and "You Can Count On Me." Broderick is married to actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

The current Broadway production of The Producers — at the St. James Theatre — stars Lane and Broderick, who are scheduled to be with the show through April 4. For tickets to the Broadway musical, call (212) 239-5800.