Joel Schumacher To Helm 'Phantom Of The Opera'

"Antonio is not doing this version," Schumacher told us, adding, "I haven't cast yet, but I want to go younger. Maybe Antonio was part of a past project. He was in 'Evita' and Andrew loves him, but he's not my Phantom."

Lloyd Webber asked Schumacher to direct this film 13 years ago. "Then the rights got tied up in his divorce to Sarah Brightman. After all these years, and a million things, Andrew offered it to me again." These days, Schumacher is prepping the project and thinking about casting. "Not Leo. He's a little young for Phantom, but someone young. The hard thing is that the leads have to sing and act. The other interesting element is you don't see the face under the Phantom mask. He's always in makeup. So, I could cast anyone."

As for the female lead, Schumacher says he's looking for "a beautiful young lady who can sing." Reminded that Colin Farrell, star of his upcoming film "Phone Booth," has Britney Spears' home phone number, Schumacher laughs and diplomatically says, "Um, do you think Britney fits into Paris in 1870? I think she's more of a modern girl."