Gere rejects Sound of Music lead

Hollywood veteran Richard Gere has turned down the lead role in London musical The Sound of Music - despite a personal invitation from music mogul Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The British composer has been desperate to land the 55-year-old actor in the lead role of Captain Von Trapp for more than a year after seeing his impressive performance in the movie Chicago - in which he starred alongsi de Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Accepting the offer would have been the Pretty Woman star's first West End theatre performance since appearing as character Danny Zuko in hit-musical Grease over 30 years ago.

Despite at the time rumoured to be "very interested" in the role - Gere is set to disappoint British fans by refusing to take the stage.

A spokeswoman for Webber's Really Useful Group says: "Nothing has been announced yet - it's all in very early stages.

"Richard Gere has been approached but it looks like other Hollywood films will take precedence - even after Lloyd Webber asked him personally."