It's Kidman's 'Birthday'
Butterworth helming family affair
Kidman would play a Russian mail-order bride sent for by an unassuming young bank manager living in suburban St. Albans, just outside London. But he gets more than he bargained for when her entire family descends upon him.
"Birthday Girl" will be Butterworth's second outing as a director, after the low-budget "Mojo," which failed to make any impact at the box office.
Like "Mojo," "Birthday Girl" is written by Butterworth and his brother Tom, and produced by Eric Abraham at Portobello Pictures. A third brother, Steve Butterworth, will serve as co-producer.
Production was originally scheduled to begin last fall, but casting issues delayed the shoot. The choice of Kidman means that principal photography is now on course to start at the end of May -- and that the shoot will take place in Australia to suit the Aussie-born star.
"Birthday Girl" was originally developed by HAL's David Aukin when he was head of film at Channel 4. So when Aukin quit the web to launch HAL with Colin Leventhal, Trea Hoving and the backing of Miramax, the project became an obvious candidate for co-production between the two companies.
Miramax had first option on the project because it had released Portobello's "Kolya" in the U.S.
