John Turturro, Nathan Lane and Elle Fanning are set to star in a $65 million fantasy musical inspired by Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker,” to be directed by Russian helmer Andrei Konchalovsky.
Titled Nutcracker — The Untold Story, the movie is based on the fairy story that inspired the ballet. Tim Rice is contributing lyrics to eight new songs using Tchaikovsky’s scores, from “The Nutcracker” itself and from his concertos and symphonies.
Konchalovsky has written the screenplay with Chris Solimine. Lane gifts the Nutcracker doll to Fanning in 1920s Vienna and Turturro plays the evil Mouse King. Kevin Phipps, art director of Troy and V For Vendetta, is supervising the visuals and the sets.
The movie starts shooting July 16 at Stern Film Studios in Budapest. The producer is Paul Lowin, with Moritz Borman acting as executive producer.
