Day-lewis in Talks for Musical Role

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS is in talks to replace fellow 2008 Oscar-winner JAVIER BARDEM in a new movie version of Broadway musical NINE.

Best Supporting Actor-winner Bardem pulled out of the Rob Marshall-directed movie earlier this month (May08), complaining he is exhausted after a busy 2007.

Producers have now set their sights on Day-Lewis - who recently won the Best Actor Academy Award for a spectacular performance in There Will Be Blood.

If he accepts, the Englishman will play Guido Contini, a director struggling to juggle the many women in his life - who will be played by Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench.

Convincing the intensely private star to act again so soon after last year's There Will Be Blood would be a major coup; he famously leaves long gaps between projects, and has only made three pictures in the last ten years.

A spokesperson for the movie has dampened speculation by telling Variety, "Any of the names being thrown around is pure conjecture, and when we're ready to make an announcement, we'll let you know."