Rob Marshall (Chicago) has begun casting for his second big screen hoofer, Nine. Top of his list for what looks to be the most culturally diverse musical since the Coca-Cola ad that taught the world to sing are Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Marion Cotillard.
Nine is a musical re-interpretation of Fellini's 8 ½, which enjoyed a successful Broadway run in the early '80s and several revivals since. Bardem has been offered the role of Guido Contini, a director who's experiencing creative trouble while trying to juggle the many women in his life and who just gotta sing. Cotillard (who mimed her award-worthy role in La Vie En Rose, but is an accomplished singer in her own right) is in talks to play his wife and Cruz his mistress.
Marshall is also seeking to reunite with his Chicago star Catherine Zeta Jones, who he wants to play the director's muse, and wants Sophia Loren for the role of Contini's mother. This is a No Mingers Allowed production.