Kidman drops out of Producers film!

[Tommycanuhearme]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:06am

http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=7551

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:09am

Oooh, did she realize it's a terrible show? Nice, Nicole. Maybe Jessica Simpson will do it - she's dumb enough.

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:09am

Thanks for posting this. I like Kidman, but I never thought she was right for Ulla.

Any thoughts on her replacement?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:13am

I would LOVE it Britney Spears or even Jessica Simpson was offered the role. That would crack me up, and I would definitely go see it for them.

Please, I hope Cady Huffman isn't offered the part - she is so wretched. I can't believe she won the tony.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:24am

fine by me. Kidman doesn't have nearly enough cowbell. the part's gotta have more cowbell.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:25am

Nicole Kidman can do anything.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 3:28am

except keep a commitment, it would seem.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 6:28am

BRING IN CADY! PLEASE!!!

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 6:51am

kidman is a fine actress, but i couldn't see her doing this role either. i think her casting was a cheap shot to get a box office name for the film. frankly, i don't care who plays the role. i'm just delighted to see that musicals are being filmed again! yay!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 6:53am

I TOLDJA she'd never make the film.
Months and months ago.
Right after she was signed.

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!

(sitting at computer with smug, sh*t-eating,'I-KNEW-this-was-gonna-happen' grin, deciding 'Yes, I WILL have another slice of bacon with my eggs after all!')

Updated On: 12/10/04 at 06:53 AM

[mallardo]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 7:48am

They'll go after a star, so how about Charlize Theron? She was a dancer before she was an actress. Can she sing, is the question.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:12am

Didn't they beef up the part for Kidman? Does the character stay the same or will they rewrite?

[nycdncr]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:12am

How about Jane Krakowski? I think that's how you spell it? She's a great singer, a fierce dancer, and she's beautiful....and blonde. If Britney or Jessica get offered the role....I'm leaving the business and moving back to Indiana.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:19am

I'd love for Cady to get to do it to bring in more 'Original Broadway Cast' oomph...but WOW, nycdncr...I LOVE the idea of Jane Krackowski too! She'd be terrific!

[SamIAm]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:27am

Kidman tunes out tuner

Wed Dec 8, 8:18 PM ET Movies - Variety


Ian Mohr, STAFF

(Variety) — NEW YORK -- Nicole Kidman is dropping out of Mel Brooks (news)' bigscreen adaptation of legit tuner "The Producers," so Matthew Broderick (news) and Nathan Lane will have to put out a new help-wanted ad for a thesp to play their loopy secretary.



Kidman's reps said Thursday that the actress, currently shooting "Bewitched," wouldn't have enough time to rehearse the intricate song and dance routines in "The Producers" before she heads into her next film, the Oz-set "Eucalyptus," opposite fellow Aussies Russell Crowe (news) and Geoffrey Rush.


A rep for Kidman said Brooks' team was very understanding of Kidman's packed schedule, and the parties made the decision amicably.


The Susan Stroman-directed film, which Universal will release domestically, is skedded to start shooting in February at Brooklyn's new Steiner Studios. Cast includes Lane and Broderick, plus Broadway co-stars Roger Bart (news) and Gary Beach, joined by funnyman Will Ferrell (news).


In making the pic, Kidman would have reunited with two recent leading men: Broderick ("Stepford Wives") and Ferrell ("Bewitched"). Bart also was in "Stepford Wives."


Kidman was slated to take the role of Ulla, the Swedish bombshell who works as a secretary for Max Bialystock (Lane) and Leo Bloom (Broderick), in the $45 million musical feature.


Busy thesp will wrap "Bewitched" before the end of the year and head to Oz after the holidays. She also recently wrapped Sydney Pollack-directed pic "The Interpreter."


Meanwhile, "The "Producers," based on Brooks' 1968 comedy classic, launched in London last month, with Lane reprising his role for a short stint.


Cady Huffman originated the Ulla role on Broadway.

[actorgaedu]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:29am

PLEASE, Jane Krackowski!!! She would be incredible!

[SamIAm]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:32am

I just have to say that, as there was a lot of discussion on this and other boards when Kidman was cast, and as she didn't even SIGN until late in the summer and there were many of us who felt she really wasn't all that interested if it wasn't going to be a big role, this is NO surprise. They couldn't really make this the Ulla show and while she could have worn prosthetics to beef up her physical shape etc...she really isn't a singer or dancer and I'm sure Stroman's chorography DID require lots of preproduction work. So, all in all...not surprised.

Here's the sad part. If Brooks had cast someone else from the beginning, he could have chosen from any number of other actresses that would have brought in box office and done so with the lead time to ensure that they would be available to the production in February. Now they will be scrambling to find someone. Cady can do the role standing on her head, but then they would have to take the approach of doing stunt casting larger names in cameo roles (which we also mentioned on these boards MONTHS ago)...and that would be OK too...

It's just another example of Brooks' short sighted casting decisions and though you might say that he couldn't have known she would drop out...I find it interesting that he was the only one who didn't consider that this might not be something she would feel comfortable doing in the end.

Now we wait and hope they find someone who can really do the role and this does not delay the production. In the meantime...THANK GOD Kidman is gone.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:40am

Yes, thank god. Im actually thinking she tried out some of the singing and realized, wow, it takes real talent to do this, not just looking good. They need to give this to Cady now. I think itd be an insult if they didnt. It's like saying, "youre not even our second choice." Of course, then id also feel bad for Brad being the ONLY original cast member left out, but i do think ferrel will be hillarious.

[HeartinNYC]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:46am

Not a big surprise, but a complete and total relief! Kidman is fine in her element, but clearly a bombshell, belting role was not in her area of expertise!

Good point, Sam, about Brooks & Co. needing to scramble around at the last minute looking for a replacement. Let's hope this all works out for the best and that this musical translates well to film!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:53am

I think Wil Ferrel will be fine. But day-yum, wouldn't it be great if he had an infected hangnail and had to drop too so Brad could take over...

Hmmm. A musical film with ALL its original Broadway stars??! What a novel concept!

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 8:55am

YES! I had a feeling all along that Nicole would drop out of the production. She was not right for the role and I'm still surprised she took on such a small part. Now on to find the person who can REALLY play the part and sing and dance. I like the idea of Jane Krakowski. That's a definite possibility. I could see her as Ulla. Of course, I'd still like to see Cady and Brad play their originally Broadway roles and keep the main Broadway cast intact. It was a successful combination. Then consider stunt casting for smaller roles. Oh, Mel, get it right this time! Updated On: 12/10/04 at 08:55 AM

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:16am

Nicole Kidman. Feh! No great loss. She's overexposed anyway. I think she could have pulled it off, but her casting kinda stuck out like a sore thumb. I hope they go for less of a name and focus on casting the best actress for the role.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:26am

YAY!

They should probably cast a known atress for the part(for the movie's sake) but WHO?

Krakowski is a great choice.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:27am

"Kidman's reps said Thursday that the actress, currently shooting "Bewitched," wouldn't have enough time to rehearse the intricate song and dance routines in "The Producers""

heh heh heh.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 10:03am

In Ethan Mordden's current book on musical theatre called "The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen", he states that The Producers is rare in that it requires all comedians or at least comic actors to play the principals. I found that to be a very perceptive observation.

Nicole is a passive comic actor and is not intrinsically funny. One must be actively comic for this script.

Cady Huffman is a very funny woman. She is perhaps (let us be gentle) a little long in the tooth for the close-ups required in film.

What you need is a bombshell comic actress who can sing and dance and is no older than 30 at the very most.