March 5, 2003
By Cindy Pearlman
In the sweepstakes to turn Andrew Lloyd Webber plays into movies, maybe Antonio Banderas should just hold out for "Cats."
Joel Schumacher called from Dublin, Ireland, to say he will definitely direct the movie version of "Phantom of the Opera."
Now the haunting question: Banderas was rumored for years to have been the first choice to star. Is that still true? "Antonio is not doing this version," Schumacher told us, adding, "I haven't cast yet, but I want to go younger. Maybe Antonio was part of a past project. He was in 'Evita' and Andrew loves him, but he's not my Phantom."
Lloyd Webber asked Schumacher to direct this film 13 years ago. "Then the rights got tied up in his divorce to Sarah Brightman. After all these years, and a million things, Andrew offered it to me again." These days, Schumacher is prepping the project and thinking about casting. "Not Leo. He's a little young for Phantom, but someone young. The hard thing is that the leads have to sing and act. The other interesting element is you don't see the face under the Phantom mask. He's always in makeup. So, I could cast anyone."
As for the female lead, Schumacher says he's looking for "a beautiful young lady who can sing." Reminded that Colin Farrell, star of his upcoming film "Phone Booth," has Britney Spears' home phone number, Schumacher laughs and diplomatically says, "Um, do you think Britney fits into Paris in 1870? I think she's more of a modern girl."
While "Chicago" seems to be paving the way for more movie musicals, Schumacher isn't sure a glut will result. " 'Chicago' is popular, not movie musicals," he says. "I don't think it will last as a film trend. The good thing for me is that 'Phantom' is its own house brand. People have seen the show 10 or 12 times, and I think they'll want to see the movie. "
Schumacher is feeling the adrenaline now since he wants to have "Phantom" out next Christmas. "I'm a little scared to do this project, but if you're not a little scared, then you're doing the wrong movie. If you think you can phone it in, then God has a very wicked surprise for you.
"It's good to be scared and not cocky."
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