Working in far speedier fashion that she does on her own plays, Wendy Wasserstein has completed the first draft of her rewrite of Larry Gelbart’s screenplay for the upcoming film of Chicago, said producer Michael Milton. The American Daughter and Sisters Rosensweig author began work on the project only weeks ago.

Larry Gelbart (Mastergate, Tootsie) had initially been assigned to write the script, but, according to a report in The Daily News, he is no longer with the project. Gelbart referred PBOL to producer Martin Richards. A spokesman at Richards' office said (Sept. 18) Wasserstein had been working on the script for less than a month. He added, however, that Gelbart is still involved with the movie.

To date, only two stars have been officially announced for the big-screen version of the John Kander & Fred Ebb's musical: Goldie Hawn (Roxie) and Madonna (Velma). Milton said no other actors had been signed, but he confirmed that Nicholas Hytner, a renowned theatre director who has also had great success in film (The Crucible, The Madness of King George), will helm the movie.

Richards, who co-produced Chicago's 1975 Broadway premiere, is producing the film, which intends to start rolling in January 1999, according to a source at Miramax spokesperson Andrew Stengel's office (reached July 20).

Wasserstein other film credits include the recent Object of My Affection, starring Jennifer Aniston.