These Broadway Musicals Are Headed for the Big Screen
Movie musicals are in the works from some of the biggest names in the industry, and we can’t wait to see them. Because we can’t always make it to Broadway to see new musicals in person, we have to wait for touring shows make a stop in our hometowns. The next best thing? Movie musicals, which are released widely and which we can watch as many times as we’d like. We’re especially excited about these musicals, which will soon be making the move from the Broadway stage to the silver screen. They’re true stories, love stories, and beloved classics, and we’ll be listening to their soundtracks on repeat until the premieres arrive.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
The life of musician Carole King arrived on the stage in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which premiered in 2014 and features classic tracks like “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “It’s Too Late,” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” It’s set to be adapted for the big screen by Tom Hanks’ production company Playtone.
Cats
Who’s ready for a movie musical filled with Jellicle songs for Jellicle cats? A film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running musical featuring felines is in the works. According to Variety, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden, and Ian McKellen are attached to star, with Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) directing.
In the Heights
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony Award-winning musical set in Washington Heights, NYC, is headed for the big screen with Jon M. Chu attached to direct. Quiara Alegría Hudes, who penned the book of the musical, will write the screenplay for the film, which is set for a 2020 release.
West Side Story
“Something’s coming, something good!” The classic story, which has already been a musical and a movie musical, is headed to movie theaters once again. The new adaptation will be spearheaded by Steven Spielberg and written by Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner. Learn more about the West Side Story remake here.
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Wicked
The story of The Wizard of Oz is turned on its head in Wicked, Stephen Schwartz’s 2003 musical about the witches of Oz. It’s based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and it’s headed to the big screen with Stephen Daldry attached to direct. It’s aiming for a December 2019 release, at which point we’ll all be defying gravity.
