Thursday news take – May 1, 2008

Bardem drops ‘Nine’
Javier Bardem has dropped out of the Rob Marshall-directed musical “Nine,” according to Variety. Apparently, the Oscar winner is exhausted from recent projects and would like to take some time off to recuperate from all the stress.

Bardem ws expected to play a director who struggles to content several women in his life, including his wife and his mistress. The film is an adaptation of the Broadway musical “Nine,” which is based on Federico Fellini’s film “8 ½.”

Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren star. Bardem recently won an Oscar for his performance in Joel and Ethan Coen’s “No Country For Old Men.” He will next be seen in Woody Allen’s dramedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

Marshall also directed the Oscar-winning musical “Chicago.”


‘Simpsons’ director gets ‘Pet’
Walt Disney has recruited David Silverman to helm “The Pet,” a live-action sci-fi comedy written by Matt Lieberman, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The story focuses on an ordinary man who involuntarily becomes the pet of a bunch of aliens. How’s that for an original story. I just hope they won’t cast Eddie Murphy in this.  

David Silverman most recently directed “The Simpsons Movie.” He also co-directed Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” and served as a producer on over 100 “Simpsons” episodes. That’s about all we know about the project at this point, but we’ll keep you posted.


Santoro seduces Carrey in  ‘Morris’
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rodrigo Santoro has signed on to star in “I Love You, Philip Morris,” a dark comedy helmed by screenwriters Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

Santoro, who previously starred as Xerxes in Zack Snyder’s “300,” will play Jim Carrey’s lover. Based on a book by Steve McVicker, the film stars Carrey as a conman who’s thrown into prison, where he falls in love with his cellmate Philip Morris (played by Ewan McGregor).

“Morris” is already in production and principal photography just recently started. Santoro’s acting credits also include “Love Actually” and TV’s “Lost.” He will next be seen in David Mamet’s new thriller “Redbelt,” due in theaters May 9, 2008.


BBC Films ready to get ‘In the Loop’
Variety reported earlier today that James Gandolfini and Steve Coogan have signed on the star in Armando Iannucci’s upcoming dark comedy “In the Loop,” in which a U.S. general and British politician try to stop the U.S. president from engaging into a war with the prime minister.

Production for the BBC film is already under way. Gandolfini will play the U.S. general. The film also stars Tom Hollander and Chris Addison.

Iannucci is a popular British satirist known for his works on several TV shows. “Loop” will mark his directorial debut.