Why Wasn't Antonio Banderas Offered the Role of Guido Contini?

Having never seen Banderas do the role on stage, but have listened to the recording. I thought he was miscast and the weakest one in the whole show ( he might have been better live, but i can't see how ).

And i am not sure he has that much box office pull any longer.

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He also looks older than 40.

Antonio Banderas couldn't have been a better fit for Guido, IMO. Raul Julia is irreplaceable but Banderas definitely came quite close (and deserved the Tony that year).
When the film was first announced I thought he had anything but secured the role, apparently they're going for Bardem instead. We don't know if he was offered the role or not though. He may have turned it down or as MichaelBennett said in the other NINE thread, Marshall probably didn't want to have that connection with the stage production.

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I heard he wouldn't do it unless Melanie was offered a role as well. End of negototiations, enter the way hot Bardem.

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Well, they didn't pay to see Gerard butler either. :) But I think a "new talent" card surrounded by established people is a Hollywood trick. Example: Nikki Blonksy in HAIRSPRAY. Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum in PHANTOM (star: Minnie Driver). If I had time I could list more.

Again, how many movies has Banderas made in the past few years?
Broadway Blog: 50 Amazing Broadway Performers AND From the Mouth of Stephanie J. Block

You know, some how I don't think they were banking on the name Minnie Driver to sell Phantom and therefore felt the freedom to cast 'unknowns' in the other roles. Just a hunch.

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The role could have been offered to him but maybe they couldn't agree financially? Besides, the cast isn't really final yet. Only "offers" have been made.

per IMDB, here's Banderas' last five years in film: I think there's only one real bomb in there: Ballistic v. Ecks. Other than Shrek, no huge hits.

Puss in Boots (2010) (announced) (voice) .... Puss in Boots
The Next Shrek (2010) (pre-production) .... Puss in Boots
Memoirs of Hadrian (200 (pre-production) (in talks) .... Hadrian
Sin City 2 (200 (pre-production) (rumored)
Shrek the Halls (2007) (TV) (filming) (voice) .... Puss in Boots
My Mom's New Boyfriend (2007) (post-production) .... Tommy


Shrek the Third (2007) (voice) .... Puss in Boots
... aka Shrek 3 (Singapore: English title) (USA: working title)
... aka The Third (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Bordertown (2006) .... Alfonso Diaz
Take the Lead (2006) .... Pierre Dulaine
The Legend of Zorro (2005) .... Zorro/Alejandro
... aka Z (USA: poster title)
Far Far Away Idol (2004) (V) (voice) .... Puss In Boots
Shrek 2 (2004) (voice) .... Puss In Boots
Imagining Argentina (2003) .... Carlos Rueda
And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003) (TV) .... Pancho Villa
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) .... El Mariachi
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) .... Gregorio Cortez
... aka Spy Kids 3: Game Over (USA: video title)
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) .... Agent Jeremiah Ecks
... aka Ballistic (Germany)
Frida (2002) .... David Alfaro Siqueiros
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002) .... Gregorio Cortez
... aka Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (USA: video box title)
Femme Fatale (2002) .... Nicolas Bardo
Original Sin (2001) .... Luis Antonio Vargas
... aka Péché originel (France)
Spy Kids (2001) .... Gregorio Cortez
The Body (2001) .... Father Matt Gutierrez
... aka Geheimnisvolle Grab, Das (Germany)

Maybe he didn't want mainstream America to see him in a musical. People would think he's gay, and that would ruin whatever he had left of a career in Hollywood.

Along with what Mister Matt said, Banderas has also been in a movie musical before. Evita anybody?

DMsquared2 has hit it on the head. EVITA? ANYBODY? No? There is your answer.

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Maybe he didn't want mainstream America to see him in a musical. People would think he's gay, and that would ruin whatever he had left of a career in Hollywood.

Wanna Be A Foster is projecting his homophobia to Antonio Banderas when it's clear it's not the issue.

Updated On: 8/22/07 at 03:53 PM

I totally forgot about the film version of Evita. But then, I usually do.

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