Chicago Film Castings-What could’ve been

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 9:50am

Nathan Lane as Amos

Michael Jackson as Billy Flynn

Any other people considered?

[jvoom]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 10:22am

Toni Collette was top of the list for Roxie but ultimately the powers that be decided she wasn't a big enough name. Around the same time, Toni also turned down Bridget Jones to do The Wild Party. Both roles of course then went to Renée Zellweger

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 10:45am

With and without Fosse's involvement, the studios tried to put together the picture several times back in the day. Goldie Hawn was the one fixed element every time it was discussed, which leads me to believe she may have sought out the rights and tried to put together the deal as a vehicle for her.

Among the rumors that got the strongest press:

* Liza Minnelli and Hawn were supposedly attached at one point, and it's rumored that this performance on a TV special in the early Eighties was some sort of informal screen test of the pair for this project.

* Before Fosse died, he was posing the possibility of a Chicago film with Hawn and Madonna, who was then up and coming. In the late Nineties, this version with these leads (which had gone through two screenwriters -- Larry Gelbart wrote a couple drafts, and Wendy Wasserstein wrote one), to be directed by Nicholas Hytner, flared up again briefly, per this E! Online feature.

* Also per the above article, by the time Hytner came on board, he felt Hawn was too old and he was reportedly circling Nicole Kidman or Charlize Theron for her role.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:00am

Madonna and Rosie were seriously considered

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:05am

I don’t think Toni Collette actually turned down either Bridget Jones or Chicago - though she was up for both roles. Mrs. Lovett too.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:44am

All credit to Marty Richards, who associate-produced the original production, got the film rights in the 70s, and kept the dream alive for 25 years. (And a certain cancelled man got it across the finish line.)

[greensgreens]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:49pm

I was at Chicago the night Madonna & Rosie came to check out the revival for themselves. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my young theatergoing days! If memory serves correct, it was right before the CNN piece was done.