The movie musical slowed down a bit in the last few years with ROCK OF AGES and BURLESQUE crapping the bed. But, LES MISERABLES looks to turn that trend around this Christmas. With so many Broadway shows still left unadapted, it was only a matter of time before these new announcements would be made.
Universal’s long in development adaptation of WICKED appears to be capitalizing on buzz around Sam Raimi’s OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL. Stephen Daldry, director of THE HOURS, THE READER, and EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE, is their top choice to bring the Oz musical to the big screen. Daldry does have experience directing stage plays and musicals. Wicked is likely to be a very effects heavy musical and with Daldry’s experience more in the realm of realistic drama, it is hard to say if that is a good or bad choice.
On the other hand, Jon Favreau has quite extensive special effects experience and yet he is close to being the director of JERSEY BOYS, based on the musical about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The IRON MAN director got his start with indie films and his involvement in both SWINGERS and MADE tell me he would be an interesting choice to helm this musical based on a true story.
Both JERSEY BOYS and WICKED were hugely lauded both critically and monetarily when they hit the stage. It is amazing that it has taken this long for them to get the Hollywood treatment. Daldry and Favreau are both talented filmmakers, so these choices should yield some pretty good movie quality.