NINE Film Casting Rumors from Page Six

"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

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?

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

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.

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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.

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

NOOOO to Johnny Depp!

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.

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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).

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.

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.

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

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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.

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

I don't even know who he is.

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