New version of "Phantom" hopes to get the go

January 16, 2003

According to several statements, Antonio Banderas has been dropped from the new $40 million musical production of The Phantom of the Opera. Yet, even more announcements claim the Evita actor is still in the lead to play Erik, the Phantom. Banderas supposedly won the role in 2001 when he sung a little song at Joel Schumacher's 50th birthday. Schumacher is set to direct Phantom after Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth) was considered and unrealized.

The creator of the Broadway Phantom, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is currently looking for a studio to back him up as a good chunk of the $40 mil will come from his own pocket. Schumacher and co. hope to start filming later this year in Prague, getting the look and feel of the 19th century.

Matthew Dalton

Source: Upcomingmovies