<P> Vardalos began meeting various executives about making a film version of the play and began writing a screenplay as well . However, the meetings proved fruitless because the executives insisted on making changes that they felt would make the film more marketable, which Vardalos objected to: these included changing the plot, getting a known actress in the lead role (Marisa Tomei was one name mentioned), and changing the family's ethnicity to Hispanic . Two months after the play's initial run ended, Hanks's production company, Playtone, contacted Vardalos about producing a film based on her vision for it; they also agreed to remount the play in early 1998, this time at LA's Globe Theatre . Hanks later said that casting Vardalos in the lead role "brings a huge amount of integrity to the piece, because it's Nia's version of her own life and her own experience . I think that shows through on the screen and people recognize it ." </P> <P> In 2000, while in Toronto doing pre-production for the film, Vardalos and Playtone producer Gary Goetzman overheard actor John Corbett (who was in town shooting the film Serendipity) at a bar, telling a friend of his about having read the script for My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and being upset that he couldn't make the auditions . Vardalos and Goetzman approached Corbett and offered him the part of Ian Miller on the spot, which he accepted . </P> <P> Despite being based on life in the Greek community of Winnipeg, the film was set in Chicago and shot in both Toronto and Chicago . Toronto's Ryerson University and Greektown neighborhood feature prominently in the film . The home used to depict Gus and Maria Portokalos's residence (as well as the home bought next door at the end of the film for Toula and Ian) is located on Glenwood Crescent just off O'Connor Drive in East York . The real home representing the Portokalos' residence actually has most of the external ornamentation that was shown in the film . Also, some minor parts of the movie were shot in Jarvis High School in Toronto . </P> <P> After a February 2002 premiere, it was initially released in the United States via a limited release on April 19, 2002 before receiving a wider release worldwide over the summer, including a wide release in the United States on August 2 . </P>

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