Colin Firth to star as Noel Coward in ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ Daniel S Levine 5/19/2012 (THE CELEBRITY CAFE)

Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth is set to star as British playwright and actor Noel Coward in Mad Dogs and Englishmen. The dramedy will be produced by BiteSize Entertainment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the dramedy will tell the story of the legendary Coward’s two-week run at Las Vegas’ Desert Inn in 1955.

Gene Kirkwood and Ross Elliot are producing the film, reports Deadline. The two recently ended their Kirkwood-Ellis banner to start BiteSize, a new U.S.-based venture with Ron Bloom, the CEO of the online video site Mevio. Kirkwood is an experienced producer who worked on Rocky and Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Kirkwood told Deadline that Willy Holtzman will be penning the script, which tells the story of how Coward ended up working at the Desert Inn after Liberace pulled out. Coward took the job since he owed the UK government taxes. The film also focuses on his relationship with his manager and a piano teacher he works with.



READ MORE:  http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/05/colin-firth-star-noel-coward-mad-dogs-and-englishmen

Colin Firth Playing Noel Coward In Upcoming Las Vegas Drama by Sean O'Connell (CINEMA BLEND)

Colin Firth is getting comfortable playing British “royalty.” After earning a well-deserved Oscar for capturing the complicated dignity of King George VI in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech, Firth next appears ready to turn his attentions to English legend Sir Noel Coward in the feature film Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

The title is borrowed from Coward’s smash-hit song, penned by the award-winning playwright, singer, composer, songwriter and actor. Deadline, which links Firth to the new production, says the film will focus primarily on Coward’s late-career stint at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, circa 1955. At the time, Coward was invited to Sin City to stand in for local legend Liberace, how had fallen and had to cancel a string of dates. The Mad Dogs screenplay, credited to Willy Holtzman, will focus on Coward’s two-week sting in Vegas, and the relationship he forged with the piano player who back him up on the gig.


READ MORE:  http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Colin-Firth-Playing-Noel-Coward-Upcoming-Las-Vegas-Drama-31013.html