Javier Bardem Runs Out of 'Nine' Lives

Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren still attached to musical

Zap2It.com

May 1, 2008

Javier Bardem

Oscar winner Javier Bardem has pulled out of Rob Marshall's big screen version of the musical "Nine."

According to Variety, the "No Country For Old Men" star left the Weinstein Co. production because of general exhaustion after a year of acting, promotion and the award season gauntlet.

The trade paper speculates that Bardem could take as long as a year to recharge, though the odds of his agent letting that happen seem low.

Based loosely on Fellini's "8 1/2," "Nine" was set to feature Bardem as Guido Contini, a filmmaker whose creative difficulties spill into his love life and force him to confront a wide variety of women from his past and present. Antonio Banderas played the lead role in the most recent Broadway revival of "Nine."

Even with Bardem out, the "Nine" cast still includes Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren. Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench have been attached to the project, but have yet to officially sign on.

"Nine" was originally supposed to begin production late last year, but the need for rewrites on Michael Tolkin's script pushed shooting back until after the writers strike.

Viewers needn't go through Bardem withdrawal, though. The actor will appear in Woody Allen's "Vicky Christina Barcelona," which will premiere out-of-competition at this month's Cannes Film Festival.