Kidman, Fiennes to star in Nazi drama "The Reader"

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and "The English Patient" actor Ralph Fiennes have signed on to star in "The Reader," a love story based on Bernhard Schlink's best-seller, media reported Tuesday.

    "The Reader" is set in postwar Germany and centers on Michael Berg, who is 15 years old when he begins a long, covert love affair with an older, mysterious woman Hanna in the wake of WWII. He never learns much about her, and when she vanishes one day, he expects never to see her again. But to his surprise, she reappears later as a defendant in a Nazi war crimes trial, and it soon becomes clear that she is guilty of an unspeakable crime.

    Stephen Daldry, who directed Kidman to Oscar glory in "The Hours," will helm the Nazi drama.

    David Hare, screenwriter for "The Hours," is writing the script.

    The shooting of the film is expected to begin next month in Germany.

    Kidman can now be seen in science-fiction thriller "The Invasion," which earned an estimated 6 million U.S. dollars during its first weekend. She is also set to star and produce a Hollywood remake of Colombian horror flick "Al Final Del Espectro."

    Fiennes is also in theaters, playing Lord Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

2007-08-21

Nicole Kidman to produce, star in "Monte Carlo"

Nicole Kidman will produce and star in "Monte Carlo," a romantic comedy co-financed by Fox 2000 and New Regency, the U.S. entertainment press reported Tuesday.

Nicole Kidman will produce and star in "Monte Carlo," a romantic comedy co-financed by Fox 2000 and New Regency, the U.S. entertainment press reported Tuesday.

    Tom Bezucha will direct and co-write the movie, while Jennifer Klein is producing it under the banner of her production company Apartment 3B.

    The film is based on Jules Bass' novel 'Headhunters,' and it will feature Kidman, 40, in the role of one of the three Midwestern schoolteachers who cut short their no-frills tour in Paris and head to Monte Carlo where they pose as wealthy vacationers.

    The Australian film star, who was awarded a best actress Oscar in 2002 for her role as Virginia Woolf in the acclaimed film "The Hours," ranks among Hollywood's best paid actresses, earning about 20 million U.S. dollars per film.

    Kidman is also starring alongside Hugh Jackman in the Baz Luhrmann-directed period epic "Australia" for Fox.