Javier Bardem is Exhausted

Posted on May 1, 2008 at 9:52 pm (PST)

Oscar winner Javier Bardem backed out of the Weinstein Company’s movie musical Nine. He was set to play the lead character Guido Contini, who, in the movie, is a director who has a personal and creative crisis as he tries to manage all the women in his life.

Bardem’s rep said he pulled out because he is exhausted from work and awards season, and will take as long as a year to recharge his batteries.

Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Sophia Loren are still aboard to star, and Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench are reportedly still in negotiations.

Bardem could be taking a break to avoid the Oscar curse. It must have been tough to pass on a movie loaded with this many talented ladies.