Will Daniel Day-Lewis Take the Musical Lead in 'Nine'?
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Casting, RumorMonger, The Weinstein Co.
At the moment we have to consider this a rumor, but can you imagine an Academy Award-winning psychotic oilman in a musical? Daniel Day-Lewis is in talks to replace Javier Bardem in Rob Marshall's film version of the musical Nine, according to Variety. As Monika Bartyzel told us a couple of weeks ago, Bardem dropped out of the lead role due to exhaustion. A spokesman for distributor The Weinstein Co. denied that a new lead had been set.What an exciting prospect, though! Day-Lewis is famously selective about the roles he chooses, which means it's safe to assume that he was impressed by the elements that have been brought together. Those elements include: (1) script by Michael Tolkin, re-written by Anthony Minghella shortly before he died; (2) a fabulous cast of women, led by Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench (as Elisabeth Rappe reported recently), but also Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren; (3) director Rob Marshall. I know that Marshall isn't universally loved -- I'm not a fan of Chicago -- but presumably he has some kind of dazzling vision that inspires confidence among actors with hidden musical talents.
If he takes the part, Day-Lewis would play Guido Contini, "a famous film director who experiences personal and creative crisis while trying to balance all the women in his life." In the 1982 Broadway musical, inspired by Federico Fellini's 8 1/2, Raul Julia originated the role. I'm hoping for confirmation soon.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-14-2008 @ 11:21PM
ananda81 said...
PLEASE, Mr. Day-Lewis, take the part!! XD
That would be so awesome!!...I am hoping for confirmation soon as well!
Reply
5-15-2008 @ 12:45AM
Maikel said...
Every time I read about "Nine" on Cinematical, I always hope it's about Shane Acker's "9". Won't that be horribly confusing with both films named the same?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472033/
Reply
5-15-2008 @ 2:24PM
Peter Martin said...
Sorry to disappoint you, Maikel. Good point about the titles, but at least the two films have little (nothing?) else in common, so that should minimize the confusion.
5-15-2008 @ 6:44AM
Steven said...
Just who do they think the audience for this movie will be? And Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the greatest actors of our time and he's completely wrong for the part.
Reply
5-15-2008 @ 2:27PM
Peter Martin said...
I'm guessing that the filmmakers are hoping to appeal to the same audience that was drawn to 'Chicago' -- it seems to skew to an older adult audience, and I'm sure it would be positioned as an awards contender.
Have you seen the play, Steven? (I haven't.) Why do you think DDL is wrong for the part? Who do you think would be more suited to play the role?
5-15-2008 @ 7:16AM
Princess of Peace said...
I hope that this doesn't pan out. Day-Lewis is great but I can't see him in this role. And I was happy that Bardem dropped out because I don't get a good feeling about this film. I can't see DDL as Loren's son. Well, what do I know? People love DDl and just want to see him make more films. But I don't get his and the rest of this talented cast's obession with this musical.
Reply
5-15-2008 @ 2:29PM
Peter Martin said...
So you've seen the play, Princess? (I haven't.) Were you not impressed by it? Do you think it's too stage-bound to be successfully transformed into a film?
5-15-2008 @ 4:59PM
Princess of Peace said...
No, Peter, I haven't seen the play. I saw two numbers on youtube (one with Banderas) and I didn't like them. It was before Bardem dropped out and I thought - he is going to sing this song. A friend of mine said that none of the songs are memorable. Someone in my office who saw the play with Raul Julia said that DDL is wrong for the part. I did not like Chicago. Okay, maybe this will turn out fine.
But you really need to have someone with Latino sexiness and DDL, as much as I love him and he is handsome, does not have that type of sex appeal. Bardem, Banderas and Julia do.
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