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Rent Film Skips Limited Release, Goes Directly to All Theatres

By: Aug. 24, 2005
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The film version of Rent will no longer open in limited release before hitting all theatres nationwide on November 23rd. Originally scheduled to open in select theaters on November 11th, the highly-anticipated movie musical will instead go directly into wide release on the 23rd.

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The Rent film, which is directed by Chris Columbus (who adapted Larson's book with Stephen Chbosky), will be released by Columbia Pictures/Revolution Studios. The original cast--Menzel, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp--is intact but for Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker; their respective roles of Mimi and Joanne will be played by Rosario Dawson and Thoms.

With shooting on the movie musical complete, Columbus recently wrote in the Rent blog: "It's been a long and an amazing road making this film. I've had some of the best experiences of my cinematic career. Every day coming to work has been a real joy, because I'm working with eight cast members who are incredibly enthusiastic and committed to their performances. I can honestly say that in over 20 years of making films, I have never seen a situation like this, where actors who aren't shooting on a particular day, show up on the set, staying for three or four hours, to support their fellow performers...Each frame is filled with emotion and dedication."

With its groundbreaking rock score by Larson and a story that captured the current of its generation, Rent is set in late-90's New York (updated in the film) in the East Village, where a group of artists love and live La Vie Boheme even under the shadow of poverty, failure, illness and death. The La Boheme-based show, which has been running at the Nederlander Theatre since its opening in 1996, won the Pultizer and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical, as well as 3 others. Tragically, Larson died a few months before the show opened. It has since run over 3,850 performances and is the 8th longest-running musical in Broadway history.

To learn more about the Rent film (and to access the blog), visit Rent">www.sonypictures.com/movies/Rent.







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