Lane, Turturro, Rice Set for New Nutcracker-Based Film

Variety reports that Tony Award-winner Nathan Lane and John Turturro will star alongside Elle Fanning in a film adaptation of The Nutcracker.

The $65 million musical fantasy with Lane (The Producers, The Odd Couple, Butley), Turturro (Life [x] 3, films such as The Good Shepherd) and Fanning (Babel, Deja Vu), helmed by Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky, will also feature lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida) in eight songs adapted from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet score, as well as other pieces from his concertos and symphonies.  It will feature a screenplay by Konchalovsky and Chris Solimine, as well as visuals and sets supervised by Kevin Phipps (Troy, V for Vendetta).  Paul Lowin produces and Moritz Berman is executive producer.

In the film, "Lane gifts the Nutcracker doll to Fanning in 1920s Vienna and Turturro plays the evil Mouse King."  Shooting will begin at Budapest's Stern Film Studios on July 16th.

"I have been trying to make this film for a very long time, and now that CGI and technical wizardry have come so far, I can finally realize my dream," said Konchalovsky.  Funds to produce the film were raised through private investors.

Photo of Nathan Lane by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.