Dench reigns again, as Liz I
Joins cast of 'Shakespeare'
NEW YORK -- Judi Dench, who starred as Queen Victoria in Miramax's "Mrs. Brown," will return to royalty playing Queen Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love," which John Madden is helming for Miramax.
Also finalizing their deals to join the cast of "Shakespeare," which begins lensing next month in London, are Colin Firth, who played a cuckold in "The English Patient," and Geoffrey Rush, who won a best actor Oscar last year for his portrayal of Australian pianist David Helfgott in Fine Line's "Shine."
Joseph Fiennes, younger brother of Ralph, and Gwyneth Paltrow ("Great Expectations") topline the $20 million romantic comedy set in the late 16th century (Daily Variety, Jan. 8). Written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, pic finds William Shakespeare writing a play that turns out to be "Romeo and Juliet" while a parallel love story develops in his own life.
David Parfitt, Ed Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Norman and Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein are producing. Handling exec producing chores are Donna Gigliotti and Miramax co-chairman Bob Weinstein, Miramax production co-prexy Meryl Poster and Miramax production veepee Julie Goldstein.
