NINE Film Casting Rumors from Page Six

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 8:53am

"Harvey Eyes All-star 'nine'

HARVEY Weinstein may have been taken to task by showbiz reporters over his missteps with "Grindhouse," but few will likely fault him for his next project. Weinstein is said to be lining up an all-star cast for the movie production of the Tony-winning musical "Nine." "I'm thinking Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger," Weinstein said of the six major female roles. As for how he'll pay all the A-list actresses' salaries, Weinstein said, "We'll figure it out." He added, "There are roles for six women in the movie who have to be beautiful and sing and dance . . . it's a terrible assignment to cast this" - to which director Rob Marshall chimed in, "Thrilling!" For the male lead, Weinstein and Marshall are said to be considering George Clooney, Javier Bardem, Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04162007/gossip/pagesix/pagesix_u.htm

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:04am

why Renée Zellweger? She can't sing [without the help of a sound studio...] and she's not all that sexy....

fishes,
Graham!

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:19am

Let's see...

Because she starred in a small film called CHICAGO and it was a huge critical and box office hit for Harvey Weinstein!!

Did you really not get that? Or do you think your personal opinion of her talent is more important than hundreds of millions of dollars and a Best Picture Oscar?

Updated On: 4/16/07 at 09:19 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:21am

Nine is first and foremost about la genta Italiana, so I hope they find a way to capture its distinct essence in the casting. (Hey, be bold, and give Isabella Rossellini a role.) Clooney cannot sing well enough -- as he admits, vis a vis OH BROTHER, when his rendition of "Man of Sorrow" (?) had to be dubbed because it was embarassing. I think Antonio B. did a nice job on Broadway, and would be frankly very right on film. This ain't a Depp role though.

[D2]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:25am

Since when has being able to sing really mattered in a film, or in anything that isn't actually live? If Renee is considered the best person for a role in the film by the powers that be and she is subsequently cast, then whatever "help" her voice needs will be given because it's all part of the movie making process. It's fantasy to begin with. Purists may be in shock, but as an audience member, I don't particularly care as long as the total effect works, and the dubbing isn't heinous.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:26am

Banderas should do it. None of the others mentioned are capable or close to being right for the part.

Although Javier Bardem is intriguing... but the general public has no idea who he is.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:57am

Robert Downey Jr. has been stuck in my head since I heard about this last week. He is the only actor I can think of whose persona captures every quality of Guido. And he looks right.

<-------------------------------- Updated On: 4/16/07 at 09:57 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:01am

I just have to wonder how the unbearably bland Anne Hathaway is considered in league with the other actresses mentioned.

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:03am

NOOOO to Johnny Depp!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:04am

I think its natural that those are the first actresses that Weinstein would think of - since they all had strong connections to Miramax - but frankly, I don't think any of them except Kidman are really right for the leads in NINE. Zelwegger and Hathaway are too quirky, Paltrow too bland etc. Even Dench doesn't really seem ideal.

Clooney doesn't sing - so he should be out. Bardem would be fascinating but its nice to see they haven't completely lost their minds and that Banderas is still being considered.

[D2]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:09am

Hathaway is high-profile these days, and despite what I said earlier about dubbing, she can sing.

Who would these women play, though? I could see Kidman as Carla and Dench as Guido's mother, but the rest? I'm not sure.

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:16am

Harvey is obsessed with his Shiksa's; this much I know for fact-- which explains Paltrow and Zellweger but I can think of no logic whatsoever that could explain why George Clooney. That would be misery.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:17am

Yes, Javier Bardem is my first choice, although Banderas is at a very close second. I am actually very intrigued about Gwenth Paltrow, becuase she has been radiant on screen (once) before (Shakespear In Love).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:18am

I think if you had to cast the leads from those women it would have to be:

Dench - Liliane
Kidman - Luisa
Zelwegger - Carla
Paltrow - Claudia
Hathaway - Lady of the Spa
Zeta Jones - Stephanie N.


If Carla were turned into a more comedic creation - Zelwegger could work in a sort of bizarre grotesque way. I don't really think Jones has the vulnerability for Carla - she could play Liliane, I suppose.

Again, I just don't think they are right. Hathaway is not a goddess enough to play Claudia, IMO.

[Urban]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:18am

Renée? She is so thin, she doesn't have boobs, she has pecs. The Italian would want to go for a real women.

Okay, seriously... I do agree we should have an all-star female cast and granted they all can sing (okay, Renée can gawp) but I am with Michael Bennett here, most of those lovely ladies mentioned just doesn't 'click' with me.

Still I'd pay to see Catherine Zeta-Jones in anything.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:31am

Eh. Movies never work as well for me when they have too many names in them.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:50am

The boyfriend and I were discussing this over the weekend. Two names we thought of that are not on this list are Toni Collette as a possible Luisa and Minnie Driver as a possible Carla.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:52am

Remember that Marshall has already said the roles will be modified to suit the actors, NOT vice versa.

Here's how they might work, with definite adapting needed:

Guido - Banderas, please!
Luisa - Kidman
Claudia - Paltrow
Lilliane (NOT French though) - Dench
Carla - Hathaway
Stephanie - Zeta-Jones
Saraghina - Zellweger


Here's a few swap-outs that might lend better results (again to be ADAPTED):

Guido - Banderas
Luisa - Cate Blanchett or Diane Lane
Claudia - Nicole Kidman
Lilliane - Catherine Zeta-Jones or Leslie Caron
Carla - Penelope Cruz
Stephanie - Renee Zellweger
Guido's Mother - Sophia Loren
Saraghina - Kathy Bates

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:57am

Best, I know very, very little about the show, but I would LOVE if Blanchett was cast!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:02am

Actually, Best12 - I could really also see Zeta Jones as Saraghina...at least as she was originally conceived under Tommy Tune.

Zelwegger could certainly gain weight to play Carla if they wanted boobs - she's done it before. I think she has the right vulnerability for the role - which is just as important as her sex appeal - its that sex appeal that I don't particularly find Zelwegger convincing in (Hathaway too, for that matter)- but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Whatever the case - if the roles will be conceived for the actresses playing them- the film could be radically different from the stage musical - and that might actually make it a better piece of movie making.
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 11:02 AM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:25am

Um...where's the sex appeal? I'm not anti-Paltrow or Zellwegger, or Kidman but seriously...they don't scream hungry full-blooded sexuality to me. Where's Monica Belluci? Asia Argento? Hell, even Salma Hayek would work better than these WASP-y ice princesses.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:29am

Here's a few other interesting possibilities...

Stephanie - Sandra Oh or Queen Latifah
Saraghina - Angela Bassett or Queen Latifah
Carla - Beyonce Knowles
Spa Lady - Sandra Oh or Queen Latifah

Just to add a touch of ethnicity to the cast, which I think they would be wrong not to do.

Another to consider...

For Stephanie or Lillianne - Madonna
For Lillianne - Joan Collins


Borstalboy---You're right. Monica Belucci needs to be in this. Claudia perhaps? Carla?

Updated On: 4/16/07 at 11:29 AM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:46am

"Although Javier Bardem is intriguing... but the general public has no idea who he is."

I don't even know who he is.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 12:02pm

I assumed Dench would be in consideration for Guido's Mother.

My choices would be:
Luisa-Toni Collette
Carla-Naomi Watts
Claudia-Rachel Weisz
Liliane-Isabelle Huppert
Guido's Mother-Sophia Loren

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 12:09pm

I'm still all for Rose McGowan as either Claudia or Carla.