The director who brought
Elizabethan England to the big screen will carry on the legacy
of a modern British institution.
Shekhar Kapur, the Indian-born helmer of "Elizabeth" and
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," will direct one of the last pieces
of writing from the late Anthony Minghella, a segment of the
urban ode "New York, I Love You."
Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of "The English
Patient" who died in a London hospital last week after a short
illness, had written but not cast or shot his segment of the
episodic film, which was to have begun shooting in April in
Manhattan.
According to Kapur, Minghella had asked him to carry out
his vision shortly before going in for cancer surgery two weeks
ago.
"He told me his film was about the value of life and how
people sometimes just throw away their lives, unable to look
beyond into the real beauty of it," Kapur wrote on his blog. "I
will direct the film now -- with Anthony in my heart and in
presence of his soul."
Two of the film's producers, Marina Grasic and Emmanuel
Benbihy, confirmed the Kapur attachment.
"Anthony chose Shekhar Kapur to direct the segment he wrote
for our film knowing that Kapur would have the deepest respect
for his vision. We look forward to working with Shekhar Kapur,"
they said.
The film, which was to have starred Minghella's son Max
before the young actor bowed out several weeks ago, will be set
on New York's Upper East Side and can be described as a
"spiritual love story," producers said.
Kapur is best known for his twin "Elizabeth" pictures,
which earned a pair of Oscar nominations for star Cate
Blanchett. He also is attached to direct the adaptation of
Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series for Fox.
The status of several other Minghella film projects --
including the Weinstein Co.'s "The Ninth Life of Louis Drax"
and Miramax's "The Resurrectionist" -- remains uncertain.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
In Theaters 
