Nicole Kidman May Get James Franco as Broadway Co-Star
Okay. A day after it was announced that today’s newly minted Indie Spirit nominee and probable Oscar nominee James Franco is co-hosting the Oscars, here’s the latest from the actor’s never boring career.
It turns out that Franco is very much in the mix to play opposite Nicole Kidman next fall on Broadway in “Sweet Bird of Youth.”
The role of course would be that of Chance Wayne in the Tennessee Williams classic was played on screen by Paul Newman. The last time it was on Broadway, Christopher Walken had the role. That was in 1975.
Nicole, obviously, is taking the Geraldine Page role of Alexandra deLago (Elizabeth Taylor in the TV Movie). It’s her second Broadway play, and Franco’s debut if it all gets ironed out.
In this production, David Cromer is directing. The talks between Franco and producer Scott Rudin have been going on for a while, I am told. But the hitch has been whether the production can do rehearsals late in the day next fall to accommodate Franco’s school schedule. Apparently, Yale gives homework!
No confirmation yet, but it does seem like this is going to happen. Hot ticket? The hottest, I’d say. Kudos to Rudin, too. He’s also got two Oscar-buzzed movies this season, “The Social Network” and “True Grit.”
[…] in talks to star Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway next fall with Nicole […]
It was Geraldine Page in the movie with Paul Newman. Elizabeth Taylor was in the 1989 TV movie with Mark Harmon.
Very happy to hear about this — and I’ll be even happier sitting in the audience to see it come next Fall! :)
A sidebar, it’s funny — when the former Mrs. Tom Cruise does a Broadway play, it is an event that everyone lines up to see. Yet when the current Mrs. Tom Cruise does a Broadway play, she gets more attention on the streets of manhattan while being photographed by paparazzi when out on strolls with her over-exposed daughter, than in the play itself.
Interesting…
The Elizabeth Taylor role??? Maybe in the lousy TV version, but the role was ‘owned’ on stage and film by Geraldine Page.
[…] his Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ “Sweet Bird of Youth”. Rudin has reportedly long been eager to cast Franco as Chance Wayne, a lowlife gigolo who seduces a washed up movie star, […]
[…] Nicole Kidman May Get James Franco as Broadway Co-Star | Showbiz411 […]
[…] in talks to star Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway next fall with Nicole […]
[…] Nicole Kidman May Get James Franco as Broadway Co-Star | Showbiz411 […]
[…] James Franco is in talks to join Nicole Kidman in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ play Sweet Bird of Youth, according to Showbiz411. […]