Rent Boy

Best known for his kiddie films and schmaltzy rom-coms, Chris Columbus has lined up something completely different for his next project. He has announced plans to write and direct a film version of Rent, the musical based on Puccini's opera La Bohe. The original opera told the story of penniless philosophers, painters and poets in a Parisian garret dying of consumption. Rent updates the story and sets it in a New York loft, with penniless musicians and filmmakers, drug addicts, transvestites and S&M dancers dying of AIDS. Anyone for a sing-song? It's a far cry from Harry Potter for Columbus, but the extraordinarily hip musical has been a considerable success since it opened on Broadway in 1996. Now the 10th longest running show in Broadway history, a film version has been in the offing since Chicago soft-shoed its way to Oscar glory a couple of years back. Spike Lee signed on at one point, but the budget spiralled out of control and the plug was pulled. But it ain't over until the phat lady sings, and now Columbus is onboard, Rent should be occupying a cinema near you soon.