| DIRECTOR OUT, DIRECTOR OUT
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By JOHN NATHAN
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Published August 12 2008 |
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| David Grindley /PH: Aubrey Reuben |
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Producers of the forthcoming London stage adaptation of Rain Man starring Hollywood's Josh Hartnett and British actor Adam Godley have announced that director David Grindley has withdrawn from the production because of "family reasons". The production will now be directed by Terry Johnson. Producer Nica Burns told Theater News Online that there is no change to the production's schedule which will still begin performances at the West End's Apollo Theatre on Aug. 28. Dan Gordon's adaptation updates the 1988 Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise flick to the present day. Hartnett will play Charlie Babbitt, the role made famous by Cruise, while Godley plays Charlie's autistic brother Raymond, originally played by the Oscar-winning Hoffman. "I've made a conscious effort not to refer to the film", Godley told Theater News Online during rehearsals, "and not to refer to the wonderful performance everyone remembers because, as always, I'm going to do my thing. But he's one of my great acting heroes Dustin Hoffman and it's thrilling to have a go at a role that he's had a go at." The show is presented in London by producers Nica Burns and Max Weltzenhoffer in association with MGM On Stage, the organization set up by Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber to develop stage version of films. Hartnett's screen roles include Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down and Virgin Suicides. Godley's stage credits include Terry Johnson's National Theatre production of Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick, for which Godley was nominated for an Olivier Award. Other productions include Private Lives in the West End and on Broadway, and the title role in Howard Brenton's play Paul.
For more information on Rain Man call (0)844 412 4658 or visit http://www.rainmanonstage.com/.
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