Blanchett, Crowe in Madeleine McCann film

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Sydney (ANI): Australian actors Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe are reportedly movie studios" favourite to star in a movie about missing English toddler Madeleine McCann. At least two film companies are planning to make a flick about the four-year-old's disappearance from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal in May. Movie bosses have started to talk about possible A-list names to play Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, who have been named as suspects in the case by Portuguese police.

"Obviously, it's not something that people are going to be making a lot of noise about yet as the investigation is still continuing - anyone who spoke publicly about such a project would come in for a great deal of criticism," age.com.au quoted an unnamed movie insider as telling the Daily Express.

"But at least two studios are hoping to take up the tale and have started considering who they would cast. Two names that have been mentioned as possibles to play the McCanns are Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe," the source added. The actress has revealed that her portrayal as young Bob Dylan in the biopic 'I"m Not There" was a turn-off for her husband. The film released in the US in November, and it depicts Dylan through various stages of his life.

Blanchett, the wife of writer Andrew Upton, revealed that her husband started maintaining distance from her after she dressed as the iconic male singer-songwriter. “He wouldn"t come near me. He was utterly repulsed by it," the Daily Express quoted her as saying. Dylan"s role has already won Blanchett a best actress award at the Venice Film Festival this year. She revealed that a few minor adjustments were required for her to look convincing as a man. “My friend put a sock down my pants and that kind of helped my walk," she said. The film also stars Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Richard Gere.