Date: 6th January 2002

Banderas Loses Phantom Role


Latin star ANTONIO BANDERAS has lost his role in the film version of Phantom of The Opera]. Banderas was keen to work with the Phantom's creator andrew LLOYD WEBBER, but has now been side-lined due to his recent string of box-office flops.

While musical genius Lloyd-Webber is a massive fan of Banderas, he believes he needs a more bankable movie star to play the tragic anti-hero portrayed by British actor MICHAEL CRAWFORD on stage. Last March (2001) an eager Banderas was enthusing about the role. He gushed, "I know Phantom like I wrote it - not just Phantom but practically everything that Andrew wrote.

Two weeks ago, Andrew called me. He was very excited on the phone and said: 'Antonio, we got it. We've got the script that we want to have. And I wrote the new music I wanted to write. '"
jOHN TRAVOLTA is now said to be keen to take the part, but a spokeswoman for the composer says, "No casting decisions have been made at all. " (KMW/WNSEX/KW)

Source: WENN