It was 2009. Rob Marshall, fresh off the massive high of Chicago, decided to swing for the fences again. He didn't just want a musical; he wanted a fever dream of Italian cinema, high fashion, and raw sexuality. To do that, he assembled what remains one of the most absurdly overqualified groups of actors ever put on a single payroll. If you look back at the cast of the movie Nine, it’s honestly kind of a miracle the production didn’t collapse under the weight of its own ego and Oscar counts.
We’re talking about a lineup that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, and Kate Hudson. Oh, and Fergie was there too, just for good measure. On paper, it was an unstoppable juggernaut. In reality? It was a polarizing, sweaty, glittering mosaic of a film that proved even the greatest actors in the world can't always save a thin script. But man, did they try.
The Daniel Day-Lewis Gamble
When Javier Bardem dropped out of the lead role of Guido Contini to take a break, everyone wondered who could possibly fill those shoes. Enter Daniel Day-Lewis. This was a massive deal. At the time, Day-Lewis was the guy who lived in the woods to prepare for roles or spent months in a wheelchair. He wasn't exactly known for "jazz hands."
He reportedly spent years—yes, years—obsessing over the character, learning Italian, and staying in character on set. You’ve probably heard the stories about him refusing to speak English even when the cameras weren't rolling. He brought a frantic, neurotic energy to the role of the blocked filmmaker. It’s a performance that feels less like a traditional musical lead and more like a man having a very public, very melodic nervous breakdown.
Some critics hated it. They felt he was too intense for a movie that, at its heart, is about a guy who can't decide which beautiful woman he wants to sleep with. But looking back, his commitment is what anchors the film. Without his grounded, albeit manic, presence, the whole thing would have floated away into a cloud of Chanel No. 5 and cigarette smoke.
The Women Who Carried the Show
The cast of the movie Nine is really defined by the "muses" surrounding Guido. While Day-Lewis is the sun, the women are the planets, and honestly, they’re much more interesting to watch.
Marion Cotillard as the Heartbreak
If there is one person who walked away from this movie with their dignity completely intact, it’s Marion Cotillard. Playing Luisa, Guido’s long-suffering wife, she delivers "My Husband Makes Movies" and "Take It All." The latter is arguably the best scene in the entire film. It’s raw. It’s angry. It’s a striptease that feels more like an exorcism. While everyone else is playing a "type," Cotillard plays a human being.
📖 Related: Emily Piggford Movies and TV Shows: Why You Recognize That Face
Penélope Cruz and the Physicality of Carla
Then you have Penélope Cruz as Carla, the mistress. She’s electric. She won an Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona right around this time, and you can see that same fire here. Her number, "A Call from the Vatican," is basically a masterclass in how to use a pink silk rope. It’s campy, sure, but Cruz sells the desperation of a woman who knows she’s just a distraction.
The Legendary Sophia Loren
Having Sophia Loren in the cast was a massive flex by Rob Marshall. She plays Guido’s mother, a role that serves as the moral and spiritual backbone of his memory. It’s meta-casting at its finest. Loren is Italian cinema. Her presence alone gives the movie a legitimacy it might not have earned otherwise. She doesn't have to do much; she just has to be Sophia Loren.
Why the Ensemble Didn't Always Click
You’d think putting Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench in the same room would result in cinematic gold. Sometimes it did. Other times, it felt like the movie didn't know what to do with them.
Judi Dench plays Lilli, the costume designer and confidante. She’s great, because she’s Judi Dench. She gets the "Folies Bergères" number, which is a fun romp through 1920s French style, but she feels somewhat disconnected from the central drama. Kidman, playing the muse Claudia, is ethereal and gorgeous, but her character feels like a ghost. Maybe that was the point. She’s the "ideal" woman Guido can’t reach.
Then there’s Kate Hudson. Her inclusion in the cast of the movie Nine was a bit of a head-shaker for some. She plays a Vogue journalist, a character created specifically for the film. Her song "Cinema Italiano" is catchy as hell, but it feels like a music video dropped into the middle of a prestige drama. It’s the moment the movie stops being an adaptation of Fellini’s 8½ and starts being a commercial for Italian tourism.
The Production Grind and the "Fellini" Shadow
Working on this film wasn't a walk in the park. The cast spent months in intensive rehearsals at Shepperton Studios in London. They weren't just learning lines; they were learning how to be a troupe.
👉 See also: Elaine Cassidy Movies and TV Shows: Why This Irish Icon Is Still Everywhere
- Intensive Dance Camps: Even the non-dancers had to look like they belonged on a stage.
- The Vocal Pressure: Unlike Les Misérables, which would come later and use live singing, Nine relied on studio recordings. This meant the actors had to give a perfect physical performance to a pre-recorded track, which is harder than it looks.
- The Comparison Trap: Every single actor knew they were being measured against the original cast of the Broadway play and, more dauntingly, the cast of 8½.
Maury Yeston, who wrote the music and lyrics, was heavily involved. He reportedly worked closely with the actors to tweak songs to fit their specific vocal ranges. This is why "Cinema Italiano" sounds like a pop song—it was tailored to Hudson’s energy.
The Cultural Impact: A Beautiful Failure?
So, did it work? Box office-wise, not really. It cost about $80 million to make and barely cleared $50 million worldwide. It was a "flop" by Hollywood standards. But the cast of the movie Nine ensured that it wouldn't be forgotten.
It’s a movie that people still talk about in film schools and theater circles. It’s studied for its cinematography and its costume design (which was nominated for an Oscar). It’s a visual feast. Even if the narrative feels a bit disjointed, the sheer power of the performances makes it worth a re-watch.
Critics were divided. Some called it a "monumental bore," while others praised it as a "sensual masterpiece." Honestly, it’s probably both. It’s a movie that tries too hard, but in an era of safe, cookie-cutter blockbusters, there’s something admirable about a movie that fails because it was too ambitious.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Nine and this specific era of musical cinema, here is how to actually appreciate what this cast pulled off:
1. Watch 8½ First
To understand what Daniel Day-Lewis was trying to do, you have to see Marcello Mastroianni in the original Federico Fellini film. It puts the "blocked director" trope into perspective and shows you exactly where the inspiration for the visuals came from.
✨ Don't miss: Ebonie Smith Movies and TV Shows: The Child Star Who Actually Made It Out Okay
2. Listen to the Broadway Soundtrack
The movie cut several songs and added new ones. If you listen to the 1982 original Broadway cast recording starring Raul Julia, you’ll hear a very different, more operatic version of the story. It helps you see how the movie modernized—or "pop-ified"—the source material.
3. Focus on the Editing
Pay attention to how Claire Simpson edited the musical numbers. The way the cuts sync with the choreography is genuinely impressive. Even if you don't like the music, the technical craft is top-tier.
4. Compare the "Muses"
Watch Marion Cotillard and Penélope Cruz back-to-back. They represent two different ways of loving a broken man. Cotillard is the reality of marriage; Cruz is the fantasy of the affair. Their performances are the true engine of the film.
5. Check the Deleted Scenes
There are several sequences and extended cuts that give more depth to characters like Judi Dench’s Lilli. They provide a bit more context for the chaotic world Guido inhabits.
The cast of the movie Nine represents a specific moment in time when Hollywood thought it could turn every Broadway hit into a prestige Oscar winner. While the "Golden Age" of the 2000s movie musical ended shortly after this, the film remains a testament to what happens when you give the best actors in the world a massive budget and a lot of sequins. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s gorgeous. Just like the industry it portrays.