And now Nicole Kidman...

If Whatever Works fares even reasonably well at the box office and with critics, Woody Allen's 2010 release--which now includes Nicole Kidman--will soar. That is, it ought to receive a crazy amount of promotion, becoming one of the more highly anticipated films of its year. For those who aren't keeping track, the cast features Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, and Freida Pinto. It appears that Vicky Cristina Barcelona rescued Allen from ever again having to cast a Saved By the Bell castaway into a role. Color me happy.

Conversations on Pinto's Salary

Last week, we linked to a report that Freida Pinto was rumored to receive an astonishing 3 million for the upcoming Woody Allen project. It was a hard number to swallow. One smart whip picked up that post and started a great conversation on an IMDB board. A variant of that same conversation is on going at the always lively Criterion board. I encourage all the readers of this blog to click the aforementioned links. The conversations are informative, to say the least.

For those readers who don't know, and whom were uncertain why Good Small Films felt it necessary to post about Pinto's reported salary, one long standing precedent of appearing in an Allen film is the agreement of cast members to work for scale. 3 million is well beyond scale--more than 2.5 million steps beyond scale.

At this point, it's impossible to know if the rumors are true. There could be many other explanations, or the Indian press report could simply be a lie. We don't know. As we find out more, we'll be sure to update our posts.

How will Allen Spend the Extra Cash?

We've previously posted that MediaPro is producing Woody Allen's next 3 films on a budget of around 23 million, easily Allen's highest-ever budgets. How will he spend the extra money?

There are also rumours that the lady from amchi Mumbai has become the highest paid Indian actress ever. Freida Pinto is set to receive around three million dollars for her role in Woody Allen’s upcoming London project. This means that she would be the highest paid Indian actress of all time, earning twice as much as top Bollywood actresses are paid! And all it took was one movie - this girl is going to go far.The still untitled Woody Allen project, starring Freida Pinto, Anthony Hopkins, Josh umours that Brolin, Naomi Watts and Antonio Banderas, is set to shoot this summer in London.

Pinto on Meeting Woody Allen

The Times of India is running an article with Freida Pinto, which includes the following:

How has the interaction with Woody Allen been?

I would describe my meeting with Woody Allen as “different”. He’s a shy and reticent director but one with a beautiful vision. It will be a dream-come-true since I was a literature student and I studied Woody Allen’s plays back in college.

Which is your favourite Woody Allen film?

Matchpoint.

A lot is being said about how your casting in a Woody Allen film might pave the way for a change in the way Indian actors are offered roles of cabbies and doctors in Hollywood films. Do you agree?

I hope it does as it isn’t good to be typecast and globalization of films is an emerging trend. Also, crossover films are being made in a bigger way, thereby creating many more opportunities for our talent.

Cast Continues to Take Shape

Woody Allen's summer project will now include Antonio Banderas alongside already listed (see the posts immediately beneath this one) Watts, Pinto, Brolin and Hopkins.

Brolin, Hopkins, and London

Whatever Works is set to open on June 19. We're all happy about that.

The other thing that will be happening this summer is Woody Allen will film his next in London. Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins are set to star. More details forthcoming.