ONLINE ARTICLE:
RENT FILM TO HIT
MOVIE THEATERS IN NOVEMBER 2005.
Directed by Chris Columbus,
Revolution Studios' "Rent," based on the Tony and Pulitizer
Prize-winning Jonathan Larson musical of the same name, will be
released by Columbia Pictures Nov. 11, 2005.
Filming
for the motion picture has already begun in New York and San Francisco
featuring many of the stars of the original Broadway production. Those
reprising their roles for the film, which features a screenplay by
director Columbus and Stephen Chbosky, include Taye Diggs (as Benjamin
"Benny" Coffin III), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (as Angel
Schunard), Jesse L. Martin (as Thomas B. "Thom" Collins),
Idina Menzel (as Maureen Johnson), Adam Pascal (as Roger Davis) and
Anthony Rapp (as Mark Cohen). Newcomers include Rosario Dawson as Mimi
with Tracie Thoms as Joanne Jefferson. The roles of Mimi and Joanne
were created on Broadway by, respectively, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi
Walker.
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The "Rent" film is being
produced for Revolution Studios by Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal
and 1492 Pictures' Columbus, Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan.
Executive producers include Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S.
Gordon and Lata Ryan, who produced the Broadway mounting. Julie
Larson, the sister of the late Rent composer, is co-producer of
the film.
Revolution Studios founder Joe Roth
said in a statement, "Rent is one of the most influential
musicals of this generation, and we are tremendously excited to be
able to bring the film adaptation to the screen. Chris Columbus is the
ideal filmmaker to deliver a faithful yet cutting-edge adaptation of
Jonathan Larson’s compelling story to existing fans of the musical
and to a brand new audience."
Co-producer Julie Larson added,
"When we learned that Chris Columbus was going to be directing Rent,
we were thrilled beyond belief. Everyone involved with the production
has become part of our ever-expanding family, and we are all delighted
that this movie will be the next chapter in the continuing legacy of
Jonathan’s vision."
Chris Columbus' directorial credits
include "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Mrs. Doubtfire,"
"Home Alone" and "Stepmom."
Rent updates Puccini's La
Boheme to the East Village of the late 1990's, with artists and
lovers struggling to connect in a world that is chaotic, shallow and
tinged with disease. The late Jonathan Larson wrote Rent's
book, music and lyrics. The 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning
musical continues at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.
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