Posted in chronological order
Please note that many of the news items give a brief description of the story.
From Intermedia Films:
Intermedia and Deep Indigo Team For Therese Raquin. Kate Winslet to star.
LONDON ( October 13, 1999) - Intermedia Films and London production company Deep Indigo will team on Therese Raquin, starring Kate Winslet and to be directed by David Levaux, it was announced today by Intermedia co-chairmen Guy East and Nigel Sinclair and Deep Indigo chief executives Nigel Stafford-Clark and Scott Meek who will produce the film. Guy East, Nigel Sinclair and Kate Winslet will serve as executive producers.
Based on Emile Zola's classic novel, Michael Thomas' screenplay is an epic love story of lust, passion, betrayal and murder. Kate Winslet plays the sensual heroine.
David Levaux, who has an outstanding list of UK and international theatre directing credits, joins the ranks of British theatre directors moving into film. Therese Raquin will be his first feature.
Nigel Stafford-Clark said: "Zola¹s novel was shocking when published last century and the film we want to make is one that still has the power to shock. It¹s about two people whose sexual attraction is so powerful that it deconstructs the world around them. That¹s not something that will ever go out of date."
"We are confident this brilliant novel will be turned into a powerful and compelling film" said Guy East. "We are delighted to be working with Nigel, Scott, Kate and David - an outstanding creative team."
Kate Winslet (Titanic, Hideous Kinky, Holy Smoke) is currently filming Philip Kaufman¹s Quills alongside Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine.
Film was introduced to Intermedia by Cassian Elwes of William Morris, Los Angeles. Kate Winslet is represented by Dallas Smith of Peters Fraser & Dunlop Group and Hylda Queally of William Morris, Los Angeles. Film and television production company Deep Indigo is backed by Gaylord Entertainment and was formed by former Zenith Productions principals Nigel Stafford-Clark and Scott Meek in early 1999. It will receive its first production credit on the major BBC millennium drama Warriors which will screen this autumn. Production is also underway on Tinsel Town, a drama series Deep Indigo is producing with Raindog Television for BBC Scotland.
Intermedia is a diversified entertainment investment company with offices in London and Los Angeles which develops, finances and distributes films in collaboration with leading producing partners. Its films include Sliding Doors, Hilary and Jackie, Playing by Heart and The Land Girls as well as such forthcoming titles as Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?, Where the Heart Is, Love¹s Labour¹s Lost and Where the Money Is.
From Popcorn News, October 14, 1999:
Kate Winslet is donning her corsets again -
'Variety' reports the actress is sticking to her vow to stay away from blockbusters with plans to star in a new version of the 19th Century French tale 'Therese Raquin'. Written by Emile Zola, 'Therese' tells the story of the passionate woman and her lover Laurent who plot the murder of her weak husband Camille. What they don't bank on is Camille returning to haunt them, turning their love affair into deep hatred. Like one of Kate's other period pieces, 'Jude', this doesn't have a happy ending.
As well as taking the title role Winslet will act for the first time as executive producer on the $15 million movie, with directing skills provided by theatre veteran David Leveaux. Shooting begins in London and Paris next summer, but it remains to be seen whether Kate will get her kit off on screen for a fourth time.
October 14, 1999 - E! Online:
ANOTHER PERIOD PIC: Titanic's Kate Winslet to play the tragic heroine in a big-screen adaptation of Emile Zola's 19th-century novel, Therese Raquin, says Variety.
October 14, 1999 - Here's the Variety article:
Winslet Inks For 'Raquin' - 'Titanic' thesp to exec produce, Leveaux to direct, By Adam Dawtrey
LONDON - Kate Winslet has committed to play the tragic heroine of Emile Zola's 19th century novel "Therese Raquin" in a new bigscreen adaptation to shoot next year. The $15 million pic will be directed by acclaimed legit helmer David Leveaux from a screenplay by Michael Thomas. Winslet is taking her first exec producer credit on the project. The producers are Scott Meek and Nigel Stafford-Clark of Deep Indigo Prods. Guy East and Nigel Sinclair's Intermedia will fully finance the production, which will lense next summer in London and Paris.
"Therese Raquin" is a melodrama about the sensual Therese and her lover Laurent, who conspire to murder her weak husband, Camille. But Camille's ghost returns to haunt them, turning their intense passion for each other into hatred. They end up committing suicide.
Leveaux will be making his debut as a feature director. His most recent stage work has included a lauded version of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" at London's Donmar Warehouse, and a Tony-nominated production of "Elektra."
This will be the first feature film from Deep Indigo since Meek and Stafford-Clark launched their new shingle after quitting Zenith Prods. "Therese Raquin" was one of the projects they took with them from Zenith, where they had previously produced such pics as "Velvet Goldmine" and "Stormy Monday."
October 14, 1999 - EW Daily:
CASTING - And you thought the ''Titanic'' love story ended badly: Kate Winslet will both star in and executive produce ''Therese Raquin,'' an adaptation of Emile Zola's novel about a woman driven to suicide by the ghost of the husband that she and her lover murdered.
October 18, 1999 - Cinezine:
Magazine covergirl Kate Winslet will star in an adaptation of Emile Zola's 19th century novel Therese Raquin. Theatre vet David Leveaux will direct the project, which will film in London and Paris next summer (maybe Mike will spot her again). Winslet is one of the executive producers and will play a woman who murders her husband with her boyfriend only to be haunted by the husband later.
October 19, 1999 - Dark Horizons:
Talking with Liz Smith for today's New York Post, actress Kate Winslet revealed she's heading into very dark territory in her next film "Therese Raquin". Based on the 1867 Emile Zola novel, the story follows a sensual woman named Therese and her lover Laurent who plot to kill her weakling husband Camille. After the deed is done however, Camille's ghost begins to haunt them and the pair's passion for each other turns to hatred - all boiling down to a shocking ending. Winslet is currently finishing up work on the Marquis De Sade biopic "Quills" and will jump into 'Raquin' straight after, serving as both lead actress and executive producer on the film. Her next film for release is the black comedy "Holy Smoke" which opens later this month.
November 8, 1999 - etonline:
The beautiful KATE WINSLET is joining forces with USA Films and Intermedia Films to make another enchanting period piece, 'Therese Raquin.' The project, adapted from Emile Zola's novel of the same name, is slated to shoot in Europe next summer.
Marking the film directing debut of London theater director David Leveaux, 'Raquin' is set in 19th century Paris and tells the tragic story of a woman whose adulterous affair leads to murder with haunting consequences.
'Raquin' has been filmed twice before: a silent version in 1928 and again in 1953 by French director Marcel Carne, with Simone Signoret in the title role.
December 1, 1999 - From BBC News:
"Winslet wants Dame Judi in her new film"
Kate Winslet is hoping to persuade Dame Judi Dench to play the role of her mother in the film adaptation of Emile Zola's story, Therese Raquin. "We sent her the script last week and we're waiting to hear back. She'd be just perfect for the part," says the actress, who is executive producing as well as starring in the film. Winslet, who has just finished making Quills, is also hoping that Ralph Fiennes will take the lead male role.
February 7, 2000 - Empire Online:
"Winslet Drops Bridget" -
Despite being more than two years in pre-production, Bridget Jones's Diary is no closer to finding an actress for the lead role. According to sources, the book's author Helen Fielding has been blamed for the problem - particularly for the decision by Kate Winslet to film Therese Raquin instead.
Insiders report that Fielding's insistence that Bridget be played by an unknown forced Winslet - who had been very interested in the role - to take on the Raquin role rather than hanging around waiting for Working Title to get its act together.
Producer Eric Fellner said "I am disppointed that I have not been able to sign up Kate." But he dismissed rumours of a rift with the star, saying, "She turned down the role because of a clash of schedules."
February 28, 2000 - BBC News:
"Pregnant Winslet Puts Film on Hold " -
Titanic star Kate Winslet's pregnancy has forced her to put the period movie, Therese Raquin, on ice for a year. Winslet is the executive producer as well as the star of the film, which is based on Emile Zola's novel and was due to begin shooting in April. "Kate is very attached to the film - it is much more than just an acting role," said producer Nigel Stafford Clark. Both he and Winslet hope Dame Judi Dench, who was recently cast, is still keen.
March 21, 2000 - Sydney Morning Herald:
Winslet's pregnancy has made her delay making her debut as a film producer on Therese Raquin, an adaptation of the Zola novel, in which she also takes the title role. She was due to start filming in May, but will now begin it next year. She won't produce every film she makes from now on. "But I like to be hands-on, and I love that whole team thing, keeping the team happy."
The attachment of her name to a project has another advantage since these days Winslet is a money magnet. Once she commits to starring in a film, investors automatically start sniffing around. She did it with Hideous Kinky, she's doing it with Therese Raquin, and last year she added to the star lustre of Quills, a film about the last days of the Marquis de Sade, which pits her against Michael Caine, Geoffrey Rush and Joaquin Phoenix.
May 20 - I found this news in Variety about "Therese Raquin" director Leveaux:
USA Films Inks Legit's Leveaux - Tony-nommed Helmer Gets 3-pic Deal, by Claude Brodesser:
Hollywood is trying to go legit -- again -- as USA Films has set a production deal with Broadway and West End theater helmer David Leveaux. Leveaux's currently on Broadway with a revival of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing," which has garnered Tony nominations for revival production and direction. "I've thought he was a movie director ever since I saw him direct `Anna Christie' at the Roundabout," said Donna Gigliotti, USA's production prexy, adding, "I'm thrilled he's starting his movie career with us." Under the terms of the non-exclusive deal, Leveaux will direct two of his next three pictures for USA Films, Gigliotti said.
Leveaux's deal emerged after he agreed to helm the Intermedia-financed "Therese Raquin," which USA will distrib domestically. "Raquin," though, is understood not to be counted as part of the pact. When production on "Raquin" was postponed because of topliner Kate Winslet's pregnancy, both USA brass and Leveaux thought about developing other pictures for the new imprint. The result is the newly minted pact.
Hopefully, TR is still on track for next spring!
June 24: I found a mention of "Terese Raquin" in a small item about director David Leveaux in the June 30 - July 7 issue of Entertainment Weekly:
"It" Stage Director David Leveaux, Age 43. Leveaux's own take on the Tom Stoppard play ["The Real Thing"] just won Tonys for best actor, best actress, and best revival. Plus, he just struck a two-picture deal with USA Films. Next: Eugene O'Neill's "Desire Under The Elms" with Mary Louise Parker on Broadway this fall; planning a film adaption of Emile Zola's "Therese Raquin."
July 4: I found this mention of the film in a Hollywood Reporter article about Kate's and Jim's Telltale Films deal with Intermedia:
"Winslet docks Telltale Films at Intermedia" -
British actress Kate Winslet's production banner Telltale Films, in which she is partnered with her writer-director husband Jim Threapleton, has signed an exclusive, two-year, first-look development and production deal with Intermedia. The deal continues Intermedia's relationship with Winslet, the two-time Oscar nominee ("Sense and Sensibility," "Titanic"), who will star in the company's upcoming projects "Enigma," directed by Michael Apted, and an adaptation of Emile Zola's novel "Therese Raquin," the latter of which is slated to start shooting in the spring. Under the terms of the deal, Intermedia will handle worldwide distribution of the films. Telltale, formed about a year ago, aims to develop and produce U.K.- and European-based films.
Marking the feature directorial debut of London theater director David Leveaux, "Raquin" is set during 19th century Paris and tells the tragic story of a woman whose adulterous affair leads to murder. Scott Meek and Nigel Stafford-Clark of Deep Indigo will produce "Raquin," with Winslet and Intermedia co-chairmen Guy East and Nigel Sinclair executive producing. USA Films has North American distribution rights to "Raquin." (Cathy Dunkley)
October 18: I found a recent mention of Kate and Therese Raquin in an article about the National Theatre:
Everyone seems to want Trevor Nunn out of the beleaguered National Theatre. Just one problem: no one wants to take over. Well, would you if you could go off to Hollywood and win Oscars?
One can only lament the apparent desire to sustain successful freelance careers that is keeping the likes of David Leveaux (director of the Donmar's acclaimed Electra starring Zoë Wanamaker and The Real Thing with Jennifer Ehle) and Matthew Warchus (the original director of Art) out of the frame - not to mention the fact that neither has ever shown any desire to run a building. (In any case, Leveaux, one of three associate directors at the Donmar, has extant and time-consuming ties in Japan to Theatre Project, Tokyo.) In demand as much on Broadway as here… those two men are also busy fashioning film careers. But before Leveaux gets to his long-planned film of Thérèse Raquin , which has been talked about for Kate Winslet, he is in New York directing Juliette Binoche's American theatre debut in Pinter's Betrayal.
October 19: I found this nice item on WENN about Kate's and Jim's commitment to baby Mia, along with a mention of Therese Raquin:
"Kate Winslet's Husband Becomes Stay-At-Home Dad"
New mum Kate Winslet's husband Jim Threapleton is going to become a stay-at-home father, so he can bring up baby Mia while Winslet works. Kate, who gave birth to her first child last week, says she's not going to hire any nannies to look after her daughter - she and her husband are going to do it all themselves. Winslet says, "We're hoping not to have child care, certainly in the early months. I know some actors that do three movies a year, and I've just never done that. So I'm not concerned that the work-load will lessen because I'm suddenly a mother, it'll probably remain about the same. When I'm doing Therese Raquin next year, Jim is not going to work, so he'll be with the baby - which is very important to him." And Winslet adds she's not going to be taking Mia on set with her, because she wants to give her a chance to choose her own career. She says, "I'd hate to influence my children by having them around on set a lot. Children have so much growing up to do before they can really decide what they want to be."
October 21: Kate talked about Therese Raquin during an interview with producer Lynda Obst that was published in the November 2000 issue of Interview magazine:
LO: "As you take on the role of producer, you will see some terrible things from the other side of the desk. I've sat in all-guy [casting] meetings, where women who are at a perfectly reasonable age for the part are dismissed as 'too old'. It's interesting being in that position. On one hand, you are suddenly vulnerable to information that you might be better off without. On the other hand, there's a way in which you can make a difference. Are you interested in producing as a way of controlling the material, or more in terms of your own life and schedule?"
KW: "I've always said one day it would be great to produce something, never thinking that I would be able to do it by myself. But the reason I got involved with Therese Raquin was, it was a book that I read at seventeen, and I sort of developed this kind of very heady sort of sweaty obsession with it."
LO: [laughs] "Sounds great."
KW: "I just became really addicted to it, in the way that you become addicted to, I don't know, cigarettes or chocolate. It just fed me in some way, and I read it over and over again. And a few years ago, having gained a little bit more knowledge, I thought, God, that book would make a brilliant film. And it just so happened somebody then said 'Well, there's a script of it already.' And because I had such an attachment to this story, I wanted to be involved with seeing the film made in the best possible way.
January 12, 2000: Kate spoke about this project during an interview for Fox News:
Q: Is there anything we can expect to see you in soon?
Winslet: Well, I'm doing a movie which we were suppose to shoot last year, but then I had (new baby) Mia and that was completely impossible. So we're shooting the movie starting in August. I will be the executive producer in the movie and playing the title role. I am very excited about that and really looking forward to getting into it.
Q: Is this your first time executive producing?
Winslet: Yes, it's my first time. You have to go to all of these meetings about budgets and things like that. It's all complicated but really good fun, and I'm pleased to do it.
January 18: Kate sighting -- Celine reports that Kate "was in Paris (precisely in St Germain-des-Près)" the past few days doing research for TR. A French journalist reported the 'news' on an entertainment TV program.
January 22: Many thanks to Celine for translating, transcribing, and sending me this item from a French paper about Kate's recent trip to Paris!
She went for a walk in the alleys of Saint-Germain, visiting the secondhand booksellers, becoming impregnated with the Parisian atmosphere. Kate Winslet made a fast journey in our capital in order to collect information about Emile Zola's novel - Forty eight hours so as to know everything about Therese Raquin, that she is going to play in the American adaptation. The shooting begins in May in South France. The actress, who was advised to do a severe diet - she didn't still lose the superfluous kilos tied up her pregnancy - took advantage of buying the French film adaptation starring Simone Signoret on video.
February 1: Has Judi Dench turned down the role of Mme. Raquin in Therese Raquin? Kate had stated she wanted Judi for the part; however, this item in today's Lineone indicates she has accepted a role in a project that begins shooting in April (TR is scheduled to begin shooting in May):
Judi Dench is to return to work opposite Kevin Spacey in The Shipping News. She had been turning down film offers to care for her husband, Michael Williams, who died on January 11. Dench will play Spacey's aunt and Welsh actor Rhys Ifans will play his boss in the film, which is due to begin shooting in Newfoundland in April. The role will reunite her with her Chocolat director Lasse Hallstrom.
Perhaps Judi will be able to do both roles - we'll have to wait for an official TR casting announcement.
February 9, 2001: Bowie to the rescue!
"Kate Winslet's Film Saved By Kind-hearted David Bowie"
Kate Winslet's pet film project has been saved from disaster by good samaritan David Bowie. Kate has long wanted to make a movie of the classic novel Therese Raquin by Emile Zola. Filming was initially postponed while Kate gave birth to baby Mia last year, then a producer pulled out of the production, throwing Kate's plans into disarray. Luckily she and husband Jim Threapleton met with Bowie recently and thrashed out a plan to work on a script, with shooting hopefully starting later this year. Kate says, "I have this passion for the Therese Raquin story. It has everything and it's my intention to make it. It's the first project Jim and I have helped to produce and I would really like it to work." Intermedia Films will bankroll the picture, while Bowie and the team at his film company will work with Kate and Jim on the script, casting and production.