Russians to screen "Nutcracker in 3D"

Russian Channel One is loosening its pockets for the brand new screen version of the famous fairy tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann, “Nutcracker”.

The new musical film by Russian director Andrey Konchalovsky will receive a significant budget of 90 million dollars and is planned to be released by New Year 2011.

As appears from the film’s title, it will be made in a three-dimensional format. The songs written for the movie will be based upon Pyotr Tchaykovsky’s compositions while the author of the lyrics will be Tim Rice, who wrote songs for the “Jesus Christ Superstar” rock-opera.

Russian Yulia Vysotskaya, the director’s wife, will act along with such stars as John Turturro, Francis de la Tour, Nathan Lane and others.

Hollywood also expressed interest in the beloved Hoffmann's fairy tale. Information that New Line studio intended to film their version of "Nutcracker" appeared earlier this year – they wanted to reject the classical interpretation of the story and to transform it into an action film, comparable to "The Chronicles of Narnia".