A film of the Kander and Ebb musical, Chicago—which has been in the works for five years—is showing signs of life once more. Variety reported April 4 that Miramax has a new script by Bill Condon in place and Rob Marshall (Cabaret, the television film "Annie") is on board as director. Interest in a film version of the show first cropped up when the still running Broadway revival first opened in late 1996. Since then, a host of directors, writers and stars have come and gone—among them, Madonna, Goldie Hawn, Charlize Theron, Larry Gelbart and Wendy Wasserstein. All along, Marty Richards and Miramax's Harvey Weinstein have been the producers.
Variety quoted Richards as saying a casting director had been hired, and potential stars would soon be auditioned. Among the names mentioned in the article were Catherine Zeta-Jones, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and Madonna. No mention of the original stars of the Broadway revival, Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking, was made.
