Now Nicole Belt: Kidman to Play Ulla in "Producers" Film

By Andrew Gans
22 Jan 2004

Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman will play Ulla in the upcoming film of the Broadway musical "The Producers."

Variety reports that the actress, currently on screens in "Cold Mountain," has landed the role of the blonde bombshell secretary originated on stage by Tony winner Cady Huffman. Susan Stroman, who directed the Broadway musical and who will direct the film, told the industry paper, "I'm so excited, [Kidman's] so versatile." Variety also says that Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan are currently writing the film's script, and shooting is scheduled to begin next February. The motion picture — starring the previously announced Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick — is scheduled for Christmas 2005.

Nicole Kidman, who received an Academy Award for her work in "The Hours," was also nominated for her role in "Moulin Rouge." The actress made her Broadway debut in The Blue Room. Kidman's other screen credits include lead roles in "The Others," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Malice," "Far and Away," "Dead Calm" and "Days of Thunder."

The original 1968 "The Producers" film 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.