"Rent" Film Finds Its Mimi

By Andrew Gans
November 8, 2004

Rosario Dawson has landed the role of Mimi — originated on Broadway by Daphne Rubin-Vega — in the upcoming film of the Tony-winning musical Rent.

Variety reports that Dawson, who will soon be seen in Oliver Stone's "Alexander the Great," will star in the film of Jonathan Larson's musical, which will be directed by Christopher Columbus. Columbus has also penned the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical.

Dawson will join a cast that features many of the show's original stars. As previously reported, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Taye Diggs and Wicked's Idina Menzel are all currently in negotiations to repeat their performances on film.

The "Rent" film, expected to begin production this spring, is being produced by Michael Barnathan, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro.

Born in May 1979, Rosario Dawson was raised in New York City by her mom (a professional vocalist) and dad (a construction worker). She made her screen debut in 1995's "Kids"; her other credits include "The Rundown," "Shattered Glass," "This Girl's Life," "25th Hour," "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," "Men in Black II," "Ash Wednesday," "Love in the Time of Money," "King of the Jungle," "Chelsea Walls," "Trigger Happy," "Sidewalks of New York," "Josie and the Pussycats," "Down to You," "Light It Up," "Side Streets," "He Got Game" and "Girls Night Out."

Rentupdates Puccini's La Boheme to the East Village of the late 1990's, with artists and lovers struggling to connect in a world that is chaotic, shallow and tinged with disease. The late Jonathan Larson wrote Rent's book, music and lyrics. The 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize- winning musical continues at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.