Original B'way Rent Stars Considered for Movie
by Broadway Staff • Oct 26, 2004
Will the Rent movie be a reunion of the stage show's original cast? Taye Diggs, Jesse Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp are all reportedly being wooed to take part in the upcoming feature film version of the musical, according to Variety.
There have been plans to bring Rent to the big screen virtually since it opened on Broadway in 1996. Over the years, different studios and directors have been attached and celebrity names have also been bandied about, with the most popular rumor placing Justin Timberlake in a role. Chris Columbus is now directing the film of the Jonathan Larson musical, which will feature a script by Stephen Chbosky and Columbus. Shooting will take place in San Francisco.
Diggs, who has found success on the big screen since Rent, is currently filming the acclaimed UPN series Kevin Hill. Martin is one of the stars of Law & Order. Menzel won a 2004 Tony Award for her performance in Wicked, which she will star in through the end of the year. Pascal, who completed his return Aida engagement in September, has been at work promoting his new album, Civilian. Rapp is currently appearing in the Little Shop of Horrors tour, which he is also committed to through the end of the year.
There have been plans to bring Rent to the big screen virtually since it opened on Broadway in 1996. Over the years, different studios and directors have been attached and celebrity names have also been bandied about, with the most popular rumor placing Justin Timberlake in a role. Chris Columbus is now directing the film of the Jonathan Larson musical, which will feature a script by Stephen Chbosky and Columbus. Shooting will take place in San Francisco.
Diggs, who has found success on the big screen since Rent, is currently filming the acclaimed UPN series Kevin Hill. Martin is one of the stars of Law & Order. Menzel won a 2004 Tony Award for her performance in Wicked, which she will star in through the end of the year. Pascal, who completed his return Aida engagement in September, has been at work promoting his new album, Civilian. Rapp is currently appearing in the Little Shop of Horrors tour, which he is also committed to through the end of the year.
While the aforementioned stars are being tapped for the movie, Variety reports that there is no word on who will play the featured roles on Mimi, Joanne and Angel. Daphne Rubin-Vega earned a Tony nomination for her breakthrough performance as Mimi in the original Broadway company. Joanna was played by Fredi Walker, who has not been seen on the Great White Way since, and Angel was played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia, the only Rent star to win a Tony for performance.
The Rent movie was expected to start shooting in early spring but that could change depending on actors' schedules.