Kate Hudson joins cast of Nine

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, MY LEFT FOOT) 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 (THE HOURS), Marion Cotillard (LA VIE EN ROSE), Judi Dench (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), Sophia Loren (LA CIOCIARA) and Academy Award nominee Penélope Cruz (VOLVER). 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.

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 Guido’s 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. Michael Cole, co-president of production, Rob Scheidlinger, evp of business affairs and production, and Kelly Carmichael, svp of production for The Weinstein Company, will oversee the production on behalf of TWC. Hudson is repped by the Endeavor Agency and attorney Marcy Morris. Nine joins TWC’s upcoming slate which features a variety of highly anticipated films from acclaimed directors including Woody Allen’s romantic comedy VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, Stephen Daldry’s THE READER and Kevin Smith’s ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO.