CZJ was cast as Roxie, I believe, then decided to play Velma because she wanted to sing ALL THAT JAZZ. She should've pulled a Whitney Houston. When they tackled her to play Deena Jones back in the days, she was demanding that she got to sing Deena's AND Effie's songs...
Now, Zeta Jones as Guido Contini, I can see it. Why not make it a gender-bending production? Jones as Guido with Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jude Law, John Goodman (as Saraghina), and Clive Owen in the supporting roles...THAT will get people to see it.
Anyways, I definitely see your point, Best12, and you're right. She IS a bankable star. I'm not sure what the discussion is about anymore, I'd love for Zeta Jones to be part of this movie. Apparently all of us disagree in the roles she should play, but interestingly enough we all agree that she fits well in the world of NINE, I think that's the reason they'd allow her to pick her role because regardless of which one she ends up playing, she'll have detractors and supporters.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"