Crowe & Kidmans 'Eucalyptus' Postponed

[Friday, February 11th, 2005]
Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman starrer Eucalyptus has postponed its production to allow further work on the script, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Shooting was scheduled to begin Monday in Northern New South Wales, and both Kidman and Crowe have been in Sydney taking part in rehearsals.

"After consulting with all the creative elements involved in Eucalyptus, we have collectively agreed that the screenplay is not where we need it to be. For that reason, we are postponing the production" said Fox Searchlight president.

Eucalyptus tells the fable of an Australian widower who plants hundreds of eucalyptus trees on his land. He tests his daughter's suitors by making them identify every species. One succeeds, but by then Ellen (Kidman) already has lost her heart to a handsome stranger (Crowe).

Crowe, Kidman, writer-director Jocelyn Moorhouse, issued the following statement: "Despite everyone's efforts during recent days and weeks, the script of Eucalyptus needs more work. Unfortunately our availability prohibits us from completing this work at this time. Therefore, we have agreed that the best thing to do is to postpone shooting until the project's foundation is solid.

"The postponement in no way lessens our passion to bring Murray Bail's beautiful Australian novel to the big screen. We would like to thank and acknowledge the combined efforts of the cast and crew that have readied the picture to this point. We are confident that when the time is right this extraordinarily talented and dedicated Australian production team will once again find a way to be on board."

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