Almodovar eyes Cruz for new film

Director puts vengeance tale on backburner

By JOHN HOPEWELL, JOHN HOPEWELL, JOHN HOPEWELL, EMILIO MAYORGA

Pedro Almodovar has put aside long-mooted vengeance tale "La piel que habito" at least temporarily and is now focusing on an original screenplay as the possible basis of his next film, with a starring role for Penelope Cruz.

Movie would also star Blanca Portillo, who was featured in Almodovar's "Volver," and Lluis Homar, who appeared in his pic "Bad Education."

"I need to be completely sure about it," Almodovar said of "Piel," an adaptation of French novel "Mygale," at Tuesday's premiere of the stage version of "All About My Mother," put on at London's Old Vic theater under the artistic directorship of Kevin Spacey.

"The new story has characters from a universe which is familiar to me and makes me feel more involved." He added that the story features five or six key roles and one is earmarked for Cruz.

Cruz, who took a cameo in Almodovar's "All About My Mother," was also at the presentation and confirmed her desire to play the role. "Pedro's call is the one I'm waiting for most," she declared. Thesp also had a lead role earmarked for her in "Piel."

It's not 100% certain that either the new project or "Piel" will be Almodovar's next movie; the Spanish director likes to work on several projects simultaneously.

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