Nine Casting — Page 2

I didn't see the revival, so I'm going on a 25-year-old memory of the original.

...speaking of menoupause moments.

But that helps!

Now that I think about it, if she's his dead mommy in flashbacks with the little Guido, a 73-year-old Loren with her nine-year-old kid is gonna be... a tad awkward.

I thought she was 40-year-old Guido's "living mom."

Now, I'm creeped out... and I need to go away and think about other things.

*sings*

"You be eighty and I'll be... nine."

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Oooh, I adore Loren, she'll be fantastic.

And Marion Cotillard is one of the most interesting and dynamic actresses I've ever seen.

Though I'm not too familiar with this show, I rather like everyone who's involved. I'm very excited.

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As others have said, thats a great cast but perhaps not in the right roles.

Penelope Cruz really is the perfect Claudia. And I still think CZJ would be most interesting playing against type as Saraghina.

Marion Cotillard is a probable Oscar nominee this year. She is VERY french which would mean the role of Luisa is probably going to have to be turned into a french character, which I suppose is fine. She did not do her own singing as Edith Piaf, but according to biographies on the net has done some singing.

Bardem is a great choice, though I still don't quite understand why they wouldn't have gone for the equally good (and more recognizable) Antonio Banderas.

Guido's Mother is definitely dead in the original film 8 1/2. Loren is a good choice.

I like the mostly European aesthetic of the cast so far - thats the feel, I believe NINE should have on film.

Updated On: 8/21/07 at 01:10 PM

The only good thing I like about the cast is that they are no longer going with a young Claudia. As much as I wanted to see Annie Hathaway in this, I always thought of Claudia as a more seasoned actress, not a young innocent girl.
I wonder when this change took place because they indeed auditioned Hathaway, Benanti, and Katie Holmes...
Catherine Zeta Jones would actually be interesting as Saraghina but we know she's not going to play that role, too small. I still don't see why she wouldn't play Luisa, wasn't she anything but secured for the role?
I have to agree with MichaelBennett, Antonio Banderas has proven himself in the role and is indeed more recognizable than Bardem. I assume either Banderas wasn't available (or maybe he refused to audition?) or perhaps they are going for a low-key actor like Bardem (yes, he is an Oscar nominee--and a brilliant actor at that who is perfect for Guido--but all of three people know who he is) and fill up all the female role with big stars which oddly enough is the opposite of the Original Broadway production where many of the main women were making their Broadway debut.
Why isn't Toni Collette's name anywhere in these early reports? Even before she announced her pregnancy her name wasn't being thrown out for any of the roles.
The only thing I liked about this report is that Renee Zellweger's name wasn't mentioned.

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My totally unsubstantiated hunch is that Antonio Banderas was never seriously considered for the film and the main reason being, Rob Marshall wants to create his own vision of the work and wasn't much interested in recreating performances from the Broadway revival. I totally expect Banderas to appear on Access Hollywood saying that his agent's phone calls were never returned or that Marshall met him for a ten minute coffee at Dean and Deluca.

I actually don't think that Zeta Jones would have a problem playing a small role (and by "uglifying" herself, she'd probably get that obligatory Oscar nomination!) but I don't think the studio would dare offer it to her.

I think Toni Collette might be great for Carla if the role were to interpreted in the horsey, coarse, vulger way she is in 8 1/2, but I honestly don't see her in any of the other roles.

Down a fourth.

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Oh dear GOD, MB... Are we going to see him turn up on an E! red carpet show for the Oscars belting out "The Bells of St. Sebastian?"
Besty, I laughed SO hard when I read that!
MichaelBennett, I guess that does make sense, but still. As a Banderas fan I thought this film could give his career a good boost, I can't think of many American films he has done lately that truly exploit his potential (why hasn't he done any more Almodovar films? His work with Almodovar has always been superb). If Marshall isn't always a great director in terms of putting together a solid compelling story (I found MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA to be a mess in terms of the way he told the story), he repeatedly manages to get great performances in the three films of his that I've seen from ANNIE to CHICAGO to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.
If Banderas isn't the one, then Bardem is an equally good option. Just no Ewan McGregor please, he's great but he ain't Guido.
I thought Toni Collette was perfect for Luisa, Marissa Tomei or Salma Hayek would've made great Carlas, and Penelope Cruz for Claudia.
Is Judi Dench still being considered for LaFleur?
I wish they got a Broadway-name actress for Stephanie Necrophorus.

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Damn, that's a sexy cast.

All in all, this looks every last bit of great (even Penelope: she can be a great fit for Carla if she really acts it).

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My biggest problem with Catherine Zeta-Jones as Luisa is who the hell can overshadow her beauty? She's way too voluptuous to be "the forgotten wife at home." It wouldn't be good casting for that reason.

And I don't think we need to see her try hard to "uglify" with horn-rimmed glasses, a unibrow, Travolta's borrowed fat suit, or a blacked-out tooth to try to "pass" for passed-over.

She'll be great as Claudia. I'm looking forward to her singing "A Very Unusual Way."

*sigh*

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I agree that Cruz in the hands of the right director is a wonderful actress. Thing is most Hollywood actors have no idea what to do with her. This musical seems like a perfect choice for her talents. I don't see her as Carla at all, I even see her more as a Luisa though Claudia is the role she's meant to play. However, she's a much bolder choice than Zellweger whose as much of a sexual goddess as Zeta Jones is a forgotten housewife.
In a way I agree with Besty, who in his right mind would neglect Catherine Z. Jones? Someone mentioned in one of the NINE threads that the original cast worked so well because Karen Akers made herself so unattractive that it was no wonder Guido went for the sexual explosion that the brilliant Anita Morris was and the beautiful Shelly Burch (though Guido's cheating problems go beyond Luisa being beautiful or not).
Honestly, no cast is going to satisfy everyone, at least until we get to see the final product. Even if I disagree with the people they are pursuing for certain roles (as MichaelBennett said, right cast, wrong roles), I'm just glad they are going for actors who have the right essence for NINE to work. Both Leveraux and Tune hired great women (and men) for their productions, glad to see Marshall is continuing that tradition.

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Well, the press release announcing the movie mentioned that the show would be changed to fit the talents of the people cast. I assume they'll either lower the song or replace it if Jones indeed ends up playing Claudia. I don't think her persona lends to the ethereal quality the role (and the song) calls for, but one way or the other, I couldn't be more excited about this film. Between SWEENEY TODD, MAMMA MIA, and NINE I am going to be on a permanent movie musical high for the next year or so.

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Wait... Luisa's not FOSCA from Passion.

She's definitely an attractive woman and Guido's wife, but she's been brushed aside for more desirable "flashier" women (at least in Guido's roving eyes).

But they don't come much more beautiful, exotic and desirable than Catherine Zeta-Jones these days. It wouldn't make sense to have her play "the forgotten" Luisa. It would be like Elizabeth Taylor, Jean Harlow or Raquel Welch (in their heydays) playing that part.

And as far as Zeta-Jones being an alto and singing "A Very Unusual Way" I'm all for it! Why not? She'll do a great job with the song and the part, I'm sure. Give it a new tailored orchestration, more mellow (I'm hearing oboes now! and plenty of cellos and violas!)... she's clean up with it.

Same thing with Cruz. She's not going to hit a high Q above Z and "vibrate like a string" like Anita Morris (neither did Krakaowski though), but she'll definitely heat up the screen as sexy, horny Carla... and I'm sure they'll be adding comic touches to her number as well.

It's good casting. I'm looking forward to hearing Bardem sing. He must have been good enough for them to pass on using Banderas.

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