che accepted the lead in Nine, Chicago director Rob Marshall’s adaptation of the Broadway play. Bardem plays a theater director who is trying to cope with the nine women in his life.

Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren and Bardem’s girlfriend Penelope Cruz have all already been cast, and now two more legendary beauties may be joining as well. Variety writes that Judi Dench and Nicole Kidman are both eyeing parts in the movie, which has been delayed from a start date last month to sometime in September. Kidman, of course, sang and danced up a storm in Moulin Rouge!, but did you know that Dench originated the lead role in Cabaret back in the 60’s? I sure didn’t before Variety told me.

I’m admittedly a sucker for musicals, so this kind of news is more exciting for me that it might be for the average person. But come on, this is exciting! That’s a whole slew of Oscar winners up there, everyone except Penelope Cruz actually, whom we can all agree is overdue. Bardem has the right charisma to be a man surrounded by women without being a sleazeball, and each one of these actresses has the chops to make their roles their own. Complain all you want about Rob Marshall’s Chicago adaptation, but I thought it was classy and elegant, and Javier Bardem is classy and elegant all on his own. Add in the rest of the amazing cast, and I am so there.