NINE Film Casting Rumors from Page Six- Page 5

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

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

I don't think the songs I mentioned are necessarily dispensable, but sometimes there are certain moments that as pivotal as they are on stage, they will just not work on film. Marshall luckily understands this (though I'm not sure how much credit Bill Condon deserves for the cutting of some numbers in CHICAGO). "Getting Tall" is a very important number on stage but I don't see them giving such a slow number at the end of the movie to one of the non-star actors. Plus, I think conversation between Guido and Young Guido could be just as effective.
MB, you're insisting a bit much on "My Husband Makes Movies" being replaced
Oh, speaking of which, I assume Maury Yeston will be involved with the production, right? Specially if Athur Korpit was considered to write the script.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:59pm

What about Gerard Butler as Guido?

OK, I'm just kidding---but I actually see this role as a better fit for him than the Phantom.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 3:59am

This is kind of a random, probably too soon to answer question, but I was telling my ex about this film (he has only heard "A Call from the Vatican" before) and he just asked me where they are filming this movie and I went on and on about how the show takes place in Venice and how important the setting is to the film. His reply was: "So Toronto?"
He works in the film industry so I know he knows better, and Rob Marshall did do CHICAGO in Toronto; but do you think there's any way he will NOT be doing on location shooting in Venice?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:00am

I would presume Marshall will do all the interior shooting on a soundstage in a place like Toronto where the location isn't absolutely crucial and all the exterior scenes on location in Venice.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:29am

If "My Husband Makes Movies" is ditched, MB, I won't go see the picture. They might as well just ditch Luisa and the whole plot of Guido and his wife, then. They might as well not make this movie.


EDIT: Something to remember---The best movie musical adaptations of Broadway shows weren't MASSIVELY reconceived or overhauled. They made a FEW trims of songs, and some minor (but important) rearranging of song positioning in their plots. They didn't "reinvent" so much as tailor the material to fit the medium. I hope NINE does the same... Make a FEW key creative decisions and let this be NINE. I hope they don't go after it with a butcher's knife.

Updated On: 4/17/07 at 09:29 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:39am

Filming a musical in Venice would be a logistical nightmare. NINE is a fantasy - it doesn't require realistic settings - I'm sure most of it will be done in a sound studio.

I think thats true as a generality, Best12 - but I also think a lot of the cuts will depend on what Marshall's vision is - if he chooses to go back at all to Fellini's work, etc. The musical is almost a completely different animal from that film.

I have a feeling Marshall will take things from both source materials but that NINE, as a movie, will be something of its own entity rather than a conventional adaptation.

Some characters from the musical could be eliminated while others from the film are included etc.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:52am

Marshall already did some changes with CHICAGO, mainly having Mary Sunshine played by a woman, cutting many songs, and switching some songs around. When it comes to this matter, I really trust him.
Plus, CABARET is one of the best movie musicals out there, IMO, and that couldn't be more different than the show itself. Marshall is no Fosse, but still.
I'd have a problem with him eliminating characters though. I can't think of any dispensable characters (save for Mama Maddelena), even Stephanie Necrophorus is an important character. I was wondering if "Be Italian" would be cut, but even then, Saraghina would have to stay in the film.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 11:41am

Saraghina is one of the trademarks of the material going back to 8 1/2 -- I really doubt she's eliminated. But some of the smaller parts (i.e. the "chorus") in the musical could easily be combined with counter parts from the original film.

For example - I don't see Anne Hathaway as Claudia or Carla, but she'd be great as Gloria Morin (originally played by Barbara Steele) - the petulant aspiring actress in 8 1/2.

Again its all just speculation - who knows if Marshall will go back to the original material at all - but frankly, Fellini's bevy of women are better thought out and more interesting than the ensemble women in NINE.

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 2:52pm

Does anyone picture Ann-Margret in this?
I would love it if they got Leslie Caron for Lilliane.

[Saraghina]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 2:58pm

Javier Bardem can neither sing nor dance, he's definitely too wooden for this.


They'd better get Antonio Banderas, he was SO brilliant in the revival and in Evita!
Updated On: 4/17/07 at 02:58 PM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 4:47pm

The way of adapting a musical to the screen totally depends on the musical. Musicals like West Side Story and My Fair Lady were pretty much kept in tact, save a scene or two, in their adaptations because the shows could pretty much stand on their own. Cabaret, while a wonderful musical, suffered from two plotlines where one was infintel more intriguing than the other and quite a few dispensable songs. Themovie made the necessary changes to make it a great movie musical.

My favorite example, though, is the movie Oliver! The musical, when you read the script, is about 20% dialogue and 80% music. This results in SO many moments in the show that don't need music and rather slow down the pace. The movie made the necessary requirements to cut the following songs: I Shall Scream, That's Your Funeral, My Name, as well as 6 reprises. It also added quite a few scenes and switched around the order of musical numbers. One of the most brilliant decisions was to move "Oom Pah Pah" towards the end, completely changing its reason for being there and adding more character development for Nancy.

I don't care what Marshall does to make this a brilliant movie. All I care about is that Nine is well represented on that screen. If he does what Hal Prince did to A Little Night Music, there will be blood on his hands.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:00pm

Another interesting choice for Guido's mother is of course Anouk Aimee -- the original Luisa of 8 1/2

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:05pm

Now that would be genius casting, MichaelBennett. I actually have a screening of 8 1/2 in 20 minutes for my film class, it's the last movie we're watching this semester. I haven't seen this film in a VERY long time, I'm sure I'll be back with a dozen more questions/thoughts regarding the NINE adaptation.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:35pm

I can see her as Banderas's mother, too.

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:09pm

Hey, Best12bars, I know this is going back a ways, but on page 1 of the thread, you said Liliane should not be French. May I ask why? Her name is Liliane La Fleur, she lives in Paris, and she's obsessed with Folies Bergeres. I should think that French is required.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:26pm

If they keep Lilianne faithful to the show and the character, she should be French. And it doesn't make much sense for her to sing "Follies Bergeres" if she's not.

But I meant that if Judi Dench plays her, I can't see her as French.

A French Dench???

Not likely. She's so veddy British to me.

Anyway... that's what I meant.

If I had my way, she would be French... and NOT Dench.

But I was trying to cast with the list that Harvey Weinstein provided, and since it was mentioned that the characters would be tailored to the actors, they might make Lilliane a Brit.

I'd rather they didn't, though.

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:31pm

Ohhhhhhhkay, now I gets ya.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:37pm

I think Dame Judi could embody many of the characteristics of the character... a powerful female movie producer... someone to lock horns with Guido... but I just don't see her playing a French woman.

My own hangup, no doubt. She's a fabulous actress... but (like Dame Maggie Smith) I've got her pegged as the epitome of "all things British."

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:48pm

I'm shocked that they're making a film of NINE.
I guess only big names will sell this - Midler for Saraqhina, Hawn for Carla, Woody Allen for Guido and Julia Roberts for Claudia - JUST KIDDING!

I loved the original and revival stagings of NINE.
Fingers crossed for the film.

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 10:48pm

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 11:09pm

Isn't the producer a man in the movie?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 11:12pm

Besty, there's also the chance that Dench is being sought to play Guido's mother, not Le Fleur.
I just saw 8 1/2 (well, when I wasn't paying more attention to my laptop) and realized how right MB is about Anne Hathaway being perfect for Gloria. Thing is I don't think they'd cast Hathaway in a musical film and not give her a song (nor do I think she'd take the role in an ensemble piece unless she gets the chance to sing) so if they indeed are adding Gloria, it'd be fun to see what they do with her, would Maury Yeston write a song for her? Will she be given "Unusual Way"? One never knows.
After seeing Eddra Gale as Saraghina tonight, I don't think any of the actress mentioned would do (Queen Latifah in particular). I was also surprised to see how much Kathi Moss channeled Gale in her performance of "Being Italian." Why didn't she do more on Broadway? Oh well, I digress.
Also, someone mentioned that Fellini's film doesn't "sing." After seeing this tonight, I feel that is completely wrong. 8 1/2 has so many moments filled with music and there were times I was half-expecting the actors to burst out in song.
Forget SWEENEY, NINE is the new "it" film for me.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:17pm

I agree: Queen Latifah would be a flavorless Saraghina. I also am not very fond of the idea of Kathy Bates, who I view as having zero sex appeal - though I suppose, given their history with Marshall, both will be strong contenders for the part.

I do think Zeta Jones could pull it off - though I'm not sure she's going to want to look so unappealing in a movie surrounded by stunning actresses.

Based exclusively on Eddra Gale's appearance, humour and what the character has to do in 8 1/2, the celebrity who most comes to mind for Saraghina (bizarrely enough) is..Kirstie Alley. I'm not sure she could handle "Be Italian" but I can certainly see her doing that dance on the beach...

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:29pm

Does Selma Hayek sing? Because I could see her as Saraghina.........

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:57pm

At 4'11, she's awfully small for the part don't you think? Those would have to be some VERY small boys to dance with her barefoot on the beach...

It would be fun to see Hayak in the film somewhere though...