Banderas As The Phantom?

Rumours abound on the internet today that Antonio Banderas has finally been signed up for the lead role of The Phantom of the Opera. If it’s true, this will be the second Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to employ Antonio’s singing skills – he fought hard to win the lead in Evita four years ago by serenading director Alan Parker in a Miami restaurant. The rumour originated with Reuters which claimed that the composer himself had announced the 'tentative' casting of Banderas. However the news proved difficult to confirm. ‘The project is still in development,’ said Lloyd-Webber’s publicist, refusing to be drawn further except to add, ‘the lead roles have still to be cast.’ Banderas himself last commented on The Phantom back during publicity for Evita when he told an interviewer that he ‘had an interview in London with Lloyd Webber and Shekhar Kapur [Phantom’s director] three weeks ago.’