The Next Rock Hudson?

Ewan McGregor Stars In Old-Fashioned Romantic Comedy With A Twist

(CBS)  What's old is new again in films.

In a homage to the old-fashioned romantic comedy, the creators of the movie "Down With Love" hope to have mature audiences remember and new filmgoers discover the golden age of such classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson collaborations as "Pillow Talk," "Lover Come Back" and "Send Me No Flowers."

But the new movie "Down With Love" has a twist and stars Ewan McGregor and Oscar-nominated actress Renée Zellweger.

McGregor visits The Early Show Wednesday to discuss the film and its retro look.

McGregor has played diverse roles in films like "Moulin Rouge," "Trainspotting" and the prequels to "Star Wars," as the young Obi-Won Kenobi. So, the producers of "Down With Love" say, it was far from difficult to imagine McGregor as the lead of their film.

"Down With Love" is set in the early 1960s, and made to reflect that era's feel and energy, with a backdrop of elegant supper clubs and New York City streets filmed in Technicolor.

In the film, Barbara Novak (Zellweger) publishes her successful new pre-feminist book, "Down With Love." In the book, she encourages women to focus on their careers, empowerment, and sex.

Journalist Catcher "Catch" Block (McGregor) is the ladies' man who wants to break Novak's will and make her admit she is wrong and needs love.

Some Facts About Ewan McGregor

• Ewan G. McGregor was born in Crieff, Scotland on March 31, 1971
  
  
• He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England
  
  
• McGregor left home at age 16 to work with the Perth Repertory Theatre in Scotland
  
  
• In 1993, McGregor made his British television debut on the Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar"; the same year, he had his first leading role in the BBC television miniseries "Scarlet and Black"; and he made his feature film debut, "Being Human"
  
  
• In 1994, he worked in the thriller "Shallow Grave"
  
  
• In 1995, McGregor made his breakthrough screen role as heroin addict Mark Renton in "Trainspotting"
  
  
• In 1996, McGregor made his U.S. television debut in an episode of HBO's "Tales From the Crypt"; he also had a featured role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in "Emma"
  
  
• In 1997, McGregor earned an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance as a robber who takes Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) hostage in an episode of the NBC drama "ER"; he co-stars in "A Life Less Ordinary" opposite Cameron Diaz
  
  
• In 1998, the actor gained praised for his role of a rock star in "Velvet Goldmine"
  
  
• In 1999, on Cinemax, McGregor portrayed financier Nick Leeson, who brought down Barings Bank, in the biopic "Rogue Trader"
  
  
• In 1999, McGregor was cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
  
  
• In 2000, he starred opposite Ashley Judd in the thriller "Eye of the Beholder"; cast as Irish writer James Joyce in the biopic "Nora"
  
  
• In 2001, McGregor starred as a writer who falls in love with Nicole Kidman's courtesan in the film musical "Moulin Rouge!"; he also appeared in the war film "Black Hawk Down"
  
  
• In 2002, McGregor reprised his role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones"
  
  
• McGregor next movie projects will be "Young Adam," a thriller based on a novel by Scottish beat writer Alexander Trocchi and "Big Fish," a fantasy tale about the life of a dying man, told in flashback.