User:Wildroot/Chicago

Marshall had to turn down choreographing an early iteration of the “Chicago” movie to direct “Annie” for television. “It was very smart,” says Meron. “He won the Emmy,” adds Zadan. “And launched a movie career.” By then, Miramax Films’ Harvey Weinstein had spent 10 years interviewing directors and going through rewrites on a planned movie version of “Chicago,” with little to show for it. But after watching “Annie” with his kids, he asked Marshall to meet with him about another musical adaptation, “Rent.” At the meeting, the director hit him with his take on “Chicago” and Weinstein was sold. Marshall brought in Zadan and Meron as his producers. “We were his team,” says Meron. “We all spoke the same language. That’s the key.” The producers knew when to schedule pre-production rehearsals and dance arrangers. “We had to educate Miramax about how to budget,” says Meron. “It was Musicals 101. Studios don’t know.” Finally, after a lifetime of everybody saying no, Zadan and Meron got to make the first movie musical in 34 years to win the Oscar. John Travolta turned down Gere's role.


 * http://variety.com/2003/music/news/chicago-dodges-musical-jinx-1117878200/
 * http://variety.com/2001/film/news/miramax-tuning-chicago-1117796459/
 * http://variety.com/2001/film/news/moxie-roxie-gives-chi-try-1117850910/
 * http://variety.com/2003/film/awards/from-the-boards-to-the-multiplex-1117878850/

Damn Yankees

 * http://variety.com/2003/film/news/m-max-steps-to-plate-on-damn-redo-1117888394/

Guys and Dolls remake
http://variety.com/2003/film/news/miramax-tunes-guys-dolls-1117881292/