Michael Tolkin to Pen Film Version of Nine

Michael Tolkin will write the screenplay for the film version of the musical Nine for the Weinstein Company, according to a report in Variety. Rob Marshall will direct the film and produce it with business partner John DeLuca. No casting or other information has been announced.

Based on the Federico Fellini film 8 1/2, the musical has a score by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit. It tells the story of a womanizing film director named Guido Contini who breaks down while making a new film. The original 1982 Broadway production, starring Raul Julia, won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Director for Tommy Tune. The 2003 revival, starring Antonio Banderas and directed by David Leveaux, won the Tony for Best Revival.

Tolkin received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for Robert Altman’s The Player. He also wrote the screenplays for Changing Lanes and Deep Impact.

Marshall has received Tony Award nominations for choreographing Kiss of the Spider Woman, She Loves Me, Damn Yankees, and Little Me, as well as nominations for directing and choreographing the revival of Cabaret. He also received an Oscar nomination for directing the film version of Chicago, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.