The two actors recently returned to the cast of the Broadway musical The Producers, where they set a box-office record. Yesterday, it was announced that the duo would repeat their Producers success on film, and now comes word that Lane and Broderick have been offered roles in one of Neil Simon's most popular works.
The New York Post reports that Lane and Broderick have been offered the roles of Oscar Madison and Felix Unger in Simon's classic The Odd Couple. Lane would play the sloppy sportswriter Madison, while Broderick would be the uptight photographer Felix Unger (the twosome might also switch roles at some performances). According to the New York daily, the limited engagement will open on Broadway in spring 2005. Neither actor has yet to accept the offer, and a director has not been named.
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 original Broadway production of The Odd Couple opened at Broadway's Plymouth Theatre in March 1965. Art Carney and Walter Matthau starred as, respectively, Felix and Oscar. The production won four 1965 Tonys, including awards for Matthau (Actor), Simon (Author), Mike Nichols (Director) and Oliver Smith (Scenic Designer). Matthau then repeated his role on film opposite the Felix of Jack Lemmon. The long-running TV version of Simon's work featured Jack Klugman (Oscar) and Tony Randall (Felix).
