DB7

Father's day for Firth on 'Nanny' pic
www.hollywoodreporter.com

Colin Firth is in negotiations to star opposite Emma Thompson in the family comedy "Nanny McPhee" for director Kirk Jones. Shooting starts in April around London, with Working Title toppers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner producing along with Three Strange Angels topper Lindsay Doran. Thompson also wrote the screenplay, adapted from the "Nurse Matilda" book series by Christianna Brand. The stories follow a magical nanny and the seven worst children in the world. Firth would play the father of the children. Doran has been shepherding the project since 1997, when she was head of MGM specialty unit United Artists. When she stepped down for a production deal at the studio, she took the project with her. Working Title recently signed on to produce with her. Bevan and Fellner have a previous relationship with Firth, having worked with him on "Bridget Jones's Diary." He is in front of the cameras opposite Renee Zellweger on the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason." Firth is repped by ICM. (Chris Gardner)