Moulin Rouge 25‑Year Oral History Shares Cast Memories
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- Baz Luhrmann decided to make a musical about the Paris cabaret venue after his 1996 Romeo + Juliet adaptation.
- Sydney hosted the film’s auditions, where Baz held workshops with singing, movement exercises, and table reads.
- Nicole Kidman was cast as Satine after Baz saw her on Broadway, sent her roses, and she owned the role, training intensively on vocals and dance.
- Jim Broadbent was told he could be cast as Harold Zidler despite not being a singer because the production could add another voice to operatic numbers.
- Moulin Rouge! became the first musical since 1991 to earn a Best Picture Oscar nomination and achieved strong box‑office success despite mixed critical reviews.
Why it matters: Fans and streaming platforms gain fresh behind‑the‑scenes insight that can spark renewed viewership and merchandising revenue for the 2001 musical, while rival studios lose a chance to ride its revived cultural buzz.
