Rob Marshall to direct film version of NINE

"Rob Marshall will direct a feature version of the stage hit "Nine" for the Weinstein Co.

It marks the first time that Marshall and Harvey Weinstein have joined forces since "Chicago," the 2002 Miramax musical which won six Oscars, including best picture.

Pic will be produced by Marshall and John DeLuca through their Lucamar Productions banner. Marshall and DeLuca will also choreograph the film together, as they did "Chicago."

Marshall and TWC co-chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein are in the process of securing a screenwriter.

Music and lyrics are by Maury Yeston, composer and lyricist of the original 1982 Broadway production that was written by Arthur Kopit. TWC acquired rights from Kopit and Yeston, who'll be co-exec producers.
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"After I finished 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' I began looking intensely at (other projects), including remakes of movies, originals and Broadway musicals," Marshall said. " 'Nine' (has) a seamlessness between reality and fantasy that is built into the fabric of the material."

Marshall said he'd like to lock in his leading man and actresses early, and custom fit the script to them.

"This one needs to be created specifically for the talent involved, to suit their strenghts," he said.Casting will be a big issue here, and if commitments complicates things, it will be 2009."

In a statement, Weinstein called the musical, "A brilliant and timeless masterpiece. Teaming up with (Marshall) and the cast he's putting together will be something we've never experienced before."



http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117962975.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

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THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!

A THOUSAND TIMES, THANK YOU!!

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Melanie as Luisa?

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Antonio would seem to be the obvious choice. He's still a fairly sellable "name" as far as the film industry is concerned (not A-List, but up there) and clearly he can handle all of the demands of the role as he proved when he did such a wonderful job with the role on Broadway. I hope they're smart and sign him.

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lol.

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I frankly, can't imagine NINE being green-lit without a reasonably solid film star already "attached."

If its not Banderas, I'm sure Weinstein/Marshall have somebody in mind and interested in playing Guido.

For the women - how about some combination of Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz, Catherine Denuve, Michelle Yeoh, etc.

The women are what are going to elevate this movie to must see status and give it any hope for box office success.

This is a terrible idea.

Hopefully this'll be another great (and Oscar worthy) partnering of director Rob Marshall and screenwriter/director Bill Condon.

Madonna is clearing her schedule even as we type this.

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I've never seen the show or heard the CD (I will eventually buy it) but I have read the script and it seems like this could work really well if done right.

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Well NINE is based on Fellini who was a visual masterpiece - whatever Marshall's concept - the selling point will obviously be the visuals. The music has always been somewhat secondary to the look of the show.

I only own the OBC, did the revival make any significant changes? I'd hate for them to shortchange the material they use because of whatever version it may be.

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Almadovar would have been perfect, but I guess that since his movies were produced by SA and distributed by Sony in the US he didn't have a working relationship with Weinstein and Mirimax.

But that being said, Memoirs of a Geisha was hardly a complete failure. It's wobbly tone was a function of adapting a very tough piece of material. Much of Marshall's work is actually wonderful.

With a more extroverted property, I bet he'll do a great job. And he learned from the start to get the best crative team together for his movies.

Updated On: 4/12/07 at 04:42 PM