Thanks to Chris T: Excerpted from The Scotsman, May 23, 2003 A
LONG WAY FROM PLAYED OUT ...As well as "juggling" two new plays in his head - "I don't know which will come out", he is writing a screenplay for Closer. Having turned down more than one film offer for both his first two plays, he got one he couldn't refuse. Veteran director Mike Nichols (Wit, Primary Colours, Regarding Henry) has pursued the play for four years, and has Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman lined up to play the four characters. Marber says the project could be greenlit within the month. The irony for him is that he, the writer, was prepared to rip up the script whereas Nichols is dead set on being faithful to the play. I ask who's winning the argument. "Him. I'm going to do what he wants. He's Mike Nichols. He knows what he's doing. I've come to this to learn. Just to sit in a room with a legend like him and be discussing my play, that is in itself an experience. "I hadn't read the play for three years, and having read it again recently, there were things in which I still thought were good, much to my surprise. I thought, no, I don't need to chop it all up into what a movie is. We can make a more original movie with long scenes and two actors in a room. It's an actor's piece. That's his view, and I'm persuaded of it." |