Guys & Dolls (2012)

If Miramax and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron could make ''Chicago'' a hit and an Oscar frontrunner, why not another classic musical about showgirls and high rollers? According to the Hollywood Reporter, the studio and the producers are in talks to remake ''Guys and Dolls,'' the venerable Broadway show about two tough-talking gamblers and the women who transform them.

The Frank Loesser musical, inspired by a Damon Runyon story about colorful Times Square characters, was first staged in 1950 on Broadway. It became a movie in 1955, starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra. A 1992 New York revival starred Peter Gallagher and made a full-fledged Broadway star out of Nathan Lane.

Zadan and Meron, who have also produced several TV remakes of musicals, including ABC's recent version of ''The Music Man'' starring Matthew Broderick, still have to clear some rights issues and decide whether or not to update the period setting. Then there's the small matter of a director and cast.

There's one actor who's on record as being up for the job: Vin Diesel. The ''XXX'' star told reporters last fall that he's a big fan of musicals, that he wanted to star in a ''Guys and Dolls'' remake, and that he had even talked to Nicole Kidman about co-starring. ''Nicole is excited about the idea, so I think it may happen,'' he said at the time. The ''Moulin Rouge'' star can certainly sing, but can he? ''I don't know how good a singer I am but I know I can carry a tune,'' he said. Hey, that's about all Marlon Brando could do, and his version turned out fine.

Entertainment Weekly