The Weinstein Company announced today that Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson (Almost Famous) will join the cast of Nine, Academy Award Nominee Rob Marshall’s (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago) adaptation of the Tony Award Winning Broadway musical. The film stars Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will be Blood) as world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life played by Hudson and the previously announced Academy Award Winners Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren and Academy Award nominee Penélope Cruz. The announcement was made today by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company.
Nine was adapted by Academy Award nominee Michael Tolkin (The Player) and Academy Award winner Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, composer and lyricist for the original 1982 Broadway production that won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and was written by Arthur Kopit. Marshall and John DeLuca (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago) will choreograph. LUCAMAR Productions partners DeLuca and Marshall will be on board as part of the producing team, with Marc Platt serving as producer, and Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston to serve as co-executive producers. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in the UK on October 10th.
Harvey Weinstein stated: “We are thrilled that Kate Hudson is joining this group of some of the most talented and creative actors in film and it will be an incredible experience for audiences to watch this cast work under the brilliant direction of Rob Marshall. Inspired by one of cinema’s most profound auteurs, Minghella’s dramatic writing, and Marshall’s dynamic staging will provide the actors with a daring opportunity to showcase their artistic potential.”
Rob Marshall said: “It’s wonderful having Kate join this extraordinary cast! Her revelatory skills as a singer and a dancer lead to the creation of the role of ‘Stephanie,’ a fashion reporter from Vogue working in Italy. An exciting new song, written by our composer Maury Yeston, has been added for her as well.”
Nine reunites Rob Marshall and Harvey Weinstein whose last collaboration, Chicago, helped revive the Hollywood Musical earning 13 Academy Award nominations and winning six Oscars including Best Picture. The film grossed over $170 million domestically and over $300 million worldwide.
Nine also extends the Weinsteins long-lasting relationships with these actors, having previously worked with Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench on such venerable projects as The Hours, The Others, Shakespeare in Love, Chocolat, My Left Foot and Gangs of New York all of which garnered 49 Academy Award nominations and 11 wins, earning each of the actors an Oscar for their work.
Inspired by Fellini’s classic film 8 1/2, Nine is a sultry and enchanting musical. Day-Lewis stars as Contini with his wife “Luisa Contini” played by Cotillard, his sultry mistress “Carla” played by Cruz, Kidman as his film star muse “Claudia Graham,” Judi Dench in the role of “Lily” – his confidant and costume designer, Sophia Loren as his mother or “Mamma” and Hudson as “Stephanie” the young American fashion journalist. The role of “Saraghina” the whore from Guidos youth is yet to be cast.
The original 1982 Broadway production of “Nine,” nominated for twelve Tony Awards and winning five, including Best Musical, was directed by Tommy Tune, choreographed by Thommie Walsh, starred Raúl Juliá with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit. The 2003 Broadway revival of “Nine” received eight Tony Award nominations and won two, including Best Revival of a Musical.
