Movie musicals have been making a comeback in mainstream media. After the success of The Greatest Showman in 2017, it seems every year has had at least one big movie musical that captures the attention of a mass audience, whether it be good, like with Spielberg's West Side Story, or truly awful, like Tom Hooper's Cats.
Regardless, this recent resurgence in interest in the medium has studios hankering to pump out more adaptations of classic musicals. Let's take a look at several upcoming adaptations that are in various stages of development and are sure-fire audience pleasers.
13
From the brilliant mind of Tony Award-winning writer, Jason Robert Brown, 13 follows the story of an awkward 13-year-old Jewish boy whose family has just relocated from New York City to good ole Indiana. The musical was the first show on Broadway to feature an all-teen cast and band and introduced the world to a new generation of talent. One of those young stars was Ariana Grande, who has gone on to become, well, Ariana Grande. Of the musicals on this list, 13 will likely be the first one audiences get to see, as the Netflix film wrapped production in 2021. Netflix has become no stranger to musicals with productions like Prom and Del Toro's upcoming Pinocchio filling its roster in recent years.
Wicked
It seems every decade has a musical that becomes a cultural phenomenon. In the '80s, it was Phantom of the Opera, the '90s had Jonathan Larson's Rent and of course, for the 2010s, there's Hamilton. The 2000s had Wicked, a blockbuster musical based on the 1995 novel that spun off from the original book series and 1939 film. While this film has been trapped in production hell for a long time, the ball seems to finally be moving. In 2021, it was announced that 13 alum Ariana Grande and future EGOT winner Cynthia Erivo would star in the film as Glinda and Elphaba respectively. The project will be helmed by director John M. Chu who, last summer, brought In The Heights to the masses and received moderate acclaim. There is no set release for the Marc Platt and Universal production, but filming is said to begin sometime in 2022.
Bare: A Pop Opera
While this musical never made it to Broadway, it has garnered a cult following and become a beloved piece of LGBTQ+ theater. Set at a private Catholic boarding school, Bare follows the relationship of Peter and Jason as they navigate hiding their sexuality from their religious peers. The show does take the word Opera in its title seriously, as there is very little spoken dialogue in the production. While this might turn some off, the late Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere's music and lyrics are so captivating that even the most skeptical viewer will be coaxed into the medium. Kristin Hanggi, who directed the original LA production in 2000, will pen the screenplay and direct the feature.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple has recently been getting a lot of buzz, and things are starting to heat up for the new film adaptation. Based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker and the 1985 Spielberg film, a musical adaptation stormed Broadway in 2005. The production received 11 Tony nominations, ran for three years on Broadway and garnered a stunning 2016 revival that made Cynthia Erivo a star. The new film is being produced by the original teams behind the musical and 1985 film, including Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Spielberg and Scott Sanders. Black is King collaborator Blitz Bazawule will be helming the project that is set to star Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R. and Corey Hawkins. The Warner Bros. film is set to be released on December 20th, 2023.
Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily We Roll Along holds a very unique place in Broadway's history. Coming off a string of smash hits, the late Stephen Sondheim took a swing on his adaptation of the 1934 Kaufman and Hart play. Sadly, the 1981 production, comprised of mostly teenagers and young adults, was a big miss, as it closed on Broadway after just 16 performances. Over the decades, the musical has had countless re-writes and become a niche favorite thanks to amateur productions and the Netflix documentary, The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened. Richard Linklater is tapped to direct this film that will feature the talents of Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein and Blake Jenner. The ambitious production will take 20 years to film as Linklater attempts to capture the sprawling narrative timeline in a realistic way.
Guys and Dolls
A high school performing arts favorite, Guys and Dolls is truly a staple of American musical theater. This remake has been a long time in the making, having hopped from studio to studio. Back in 2016, when 20th Century Fox was working on a new version, stars like Joseph Gordon Levitt and Channing Tatum were pegged to lead the film. Now, TriStar Pictures has the rights and has secured a director in Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Beauty and the Beast). This would be the second adaptation of the classic musical, following the original 1955 film that featured the talents of Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. While the original film is near perfect, films like Spielberg and Tony Kushner's new take on West Side Story show these classic tales can get a lot from a film revival.