It's been more than a year (and counting) since the two stars' names were linked to a big-screen version of the hit Broadway musical, Chicago--and still no movie.
The rumor mill has been working overtime in recent weeks that either: (a) the movie's not happening; (b) the movie's not happening with Goldie Hawn; (c) the movie's not happening with Madonna; and/or (d) all of the above.
Officially, Miramax, the studio behind Chicago, won't comment on the rumor mill. The word is the project is at status quo--whatever that means, considering very little about the project has been set in concrete. Reputed start dates have come and gone and the studio says there still isn't one--even if February 1999 is being touted as the latest production target.
Chicago became a hot-ticket property following (a still-running) stage revival in 1996. The show is based on a Roaring '20s satire about a cunning killer who becomes a media darling. Director Bob Fosse first staged Chicago as a musical--with songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret) and focusing on not just one, but two cunning killers--in 1975.
Hawn was said to be in negotiations to play one of the felony-minded women as long as ago as April 1997. Madonna's name was mentioned early and often as the other likely lead killer.
At one point, Madonna's publicist told the Los Angeles Times that the performer expected the Chicago movie to happen "later than sooner." She wasn't kidding. That statement was in November 1997.
Fast-forward to November 1998 and gossip maven Liz Smith had the M One sounding wistful about the project: "Who knows? They never tell me anything. I'm just a chorus girl."
Meanwhile, stories about the maybe/maybe-not production keep getting uglier.
The New York tabs have been pushing the angle that director Nicholas Hytner (The Object of My Affection) wants to fire Hawn because she's too old. The onetime Oscar winner turns 53 this month. On Broadway, her role, Roxie Hart, has been handled by the likes of Gwen Verdon--age 50, at the 1975 debut--and Ann Reinking--age 46, at the 1996 revival.
Today's New York Post name drops Devil's Advocate costar Charlize Theron (age 23) and Nicole Kidman (age 31) as possible new stars.
Hytner also reportedly has more worries than birthdays. The paper says he's unhappy with the script--or scripts (the two written by M*A*S*H* vet Larry Gelbart and the one knocked out by playwright Wendy Wasserstein).
Despite the apparent headaches, Hawn's rep told the Post the actress is still "passionately committed to making this movie."
In case you're not as passionately committed to waiting for the thing to get made, find a rental copy of Roxie Hart, Ginger Rogers' 1942 movie version.