"The Next Best Thing" to Begin Filming April 23
Madonna, Rupert Everett Star in Drama Directed by John Schlesinger
HOLLYWOOD--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 22, 1999--"The Next Best Thing,'' starring Madonna and Rupert Everett and directed by Academy Award(TM) winner John Schlesinger, will begin principal photography on April 23.
The Lakeshore Entertainment production will be filmed entirely in Los Angeles and distributed by Paramount Pictures, which is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.
"The Next Best Thing'' is written by Tom Ropelewski and produced by Tom Rosenberg, Leslie Dixon and Linne Radmin. The executive producers are Ted Tannebaum and Gary Lucchesi, and the co-producer is Marcus Viscidi.
"The Next Best Thing'' stars Madonna and Everett as best friends with so much in common -- a joyful, unconventional approach to life; quick wit and intelligence; an endearing impulsiveness ... and miserable luck in love. Abbie and Robert would make the perfect couple, but one thing prevents them from looking to each other for romance -- Robert is gay.
A day comes, however, when too many cocktails and a twist of fate takes them to a new level of intimacy ... and turns them into parents. A whole new world has opened up for them, and for the sake of Sam, their child (played by newcomer Malcolm Stumpf), Abbie and Robert decide to live together as a family.
Theirs may not be the perfect family -- but it is the next best thing.
Madonna is one of the most successful recording and music-video artists ever, with more than 100 million albums sold worldwide. Her latest album, "Ray of Light,'' earned three Grammys, including the Best Pop Album award, with a fourth Grammy going to the "Ray of Light'' music video. As an actress, Madonna made her feature-film debut in "Desperately Seeking Susan'' and earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for the title role of ``Evita.'' Her other films include "Dick Tracy,'' "A League of Their Own'' and "Body of Evidence,'' among others. Madonna was the subject of the acclaimed documentary "Truth or Dare,'' a behind-the-scenes look at her Blond Ambition concert tour, and also starred on Broadway in David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow.'' Additionally, Madonna heads her own multimedia company, Maverick Entertainment, which includes her own record label, Maverick Records, and her own film company, MADGUY Films.
Everett recently appeared as Christopher Marlowe in "Shakespeare in Love,'' which earned several Oscars®, including the Best Picture award. He also earned a Golden Globe nomination as well as American Comedy and Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for his role in "My Best Friend's Wedding,'' opposite Julia Roberts. Everett first gained international recognition for his performance in the 1984 film "Another Country,'' a role he had originated on the stage in London. His other film credits include "The Madness of King George,'' "Pret-a-Porter,'' "Dunston Checks In,'' "Cemetery Man,'' "Dance With a Stranger,'' "Duet for One,'' "The Comfort of Strangers'' and "The Chronicle of a Death Foretold.'' Upcoming are starring roles in "William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream,'' "Inspector Gadget'' and "An Ideal Husband.''
Everett has also written two successful novels -- "Hello Darling Are You Working?'' and ``The Hairdresser of St. Tropez.''
Seven-year-old Stumpf is making his professional acting debut in "The Next Best Thing.''
Director Schlesinger's previous feature film was "Eye for an Eye,'' for Paramount Pictures, and he recently directed "The Tale of Sweeney Todd'' for television.
Schlesinger won his Academy Award(TM) for directing "Midnight Cowboy,'' which also brought him a BAFTA Award and the Directors Guild of America Award.
His other films include "Sunday, Bloody Sunday'' and "Darling'' (both of which earned him Oscar® nominations), "The Innocent,'' "Pacific Heights,'' "Madame Sousatzka,'' "The Believers,'' "The Falcon and the Snowman,'' "Yanks,'' "Marathon Man,'' "The Day of the Locust,'' "Far From the Madding Crowd'' and "Billy Liar.''
Schlesinger's television credits include the award-winning "An Englishman Abroad,'' "Separate Tables,'' "A Question of Attribution'' (BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama) and "Cold Comfort Farm,'' which was distributed theatrically in the United States with great success. He has also directed major stage and opera productions.
In 1970, Schlesinger was named CBE (Commander of the British Empire).
Writer Ropelewski co-wrote "The Kiss,'' directed by Pen Densham, and "Loverboy,'' directed by Joan Micklin Silver. He wrote and made his directorial debut with the comedy "Madhouse,'' starring John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley, and also directed as well as co-wrote "Look Who's Talking Now,'' starring Alley, John Travolta, Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton.
Ropelewski is currently supervising producer on the Paramount Television show "Seven Days'' and has recently completed "L.A. Underground,'' his first pilot script. "The Next Best Thing'' is his first dramatic screenplay. He is married to screenwriter/producer Dixon.
Producer Rosenberg, a veteran of film financing and production, is founder and chairman of Lakeshore Entertainment.
Among the feature-film projects produced by Lakeshore are the recently wrapped "Runaway Bride,'' with Roberts and Richard Gere; "Arlington Road,'' with Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins; and "Passion of Mind,'' with Demi Moore. Other Lakeshore productions include "200 Cigarettes,'' "Polish Wedding,'' "Homegrown,'' "Going All the Way,'' "The Real Blonde,'' "Box of Moonlight'' and "The Kids in the Hall Brain Candy.''
Rosenberg previously spent five years at Beacon Communications, which he co-founded and which was sold to Comsat Corp. in 1994. During his tenure at Beacon, Rosenberg produced such films as "The Commitments,'' "Sugar Hill,'' "A Midnight Clear,'' "Princess Caraboo'' and "The Road to Wellville.'' Producer Radmin is founder and president of the Radmin Co., a management and production company that represents actors, writers and directors, including Ropelewski. Radmin is also producing the upcoming feature "One Neck,'' to be directed by Adrian Lyne, and, with Neal Moritz, the comedy "Witch Hunt.'' Before forming her own company, Radmin was a literary agent at ICM for seven years.
Producer Dixon has produced "That Old Feeling,'' starring Bette Midler; "Look Who's Talking Now,'' which was written and directed by her husband, Ropelewski; and "Madhouse.'' She began her career as a screenwriter and was teaching word processing in a law firm when her first script was sold to Columbia Pictures. Her first produced credit was "Outrageous Fortune,'' starring Midler and Shelley Long. Other credits include "Overboard,'' "Mrs. Doubtfire'' and the upcoming "The Thomas Crown Affair,'' starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.
Executive producer Tannebaum is co-chairman of Lakeshore Entertainment and a veteran of law and investment finance. Established in 1995, Lakeshore Entertainment is a Paramount-based production and distribution company focused on feature-film, broadcast-television, cable and digital-entertainment activities.
Lakeshore film projects executive-produced by Tannebaum include "Runaway Bride,'' with Roberts and Gere; "Arlington Road,'' with Bridges and Tim Robbins; "Passion of Mind,'' with Moore; "200 Cigarettes''; "Polish Wedding''; "Homegrown''; "Going All the Way''; "The Real Blonde''; "Box of Moonlight'' and "The Kids in the Hall Brain Candy.''
Executive producer Lucchesi is president of Lakeshore Entertainment. He is also serving as executive producer on the upcoming "Runaway Bride,'' a Paramount Pictures release starring Roberts and Gere, as well as "Passion of Mind,'' with Moore.
Prior to joining Lakeshore, he produced "Primal Fear,'' "Virtuosity'' and "Jennifer 8,'' all for Paramount Pictures; and "Three Wishes,'' as well as "Just the Ticket.'' In addition, he served as executive producer on "Breast Men'' and the Emmy Award-winning "Gotti,'' both for HBO. Before he became an independent producer, Lucchesi was president of production at Paramount Pictures and oversaw production of such films as "Ghost,'' "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,'' "Fatal Attraction,'' "The Hunt for Red October,'' "The Untouchables'' and "Godfather III.''