Guillermo del Toro has been planning something quite tremendous.
PAN’S LABYRINTH is coming to the stage as a musical. The film as you may remember was about, “a young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer who finds refuge and terror in a fantasy world in 1944 Fascist Spain”. A stage version in book form was already written by del Toro and Jeremy Ungar. Gustavo Santaolalla, who has written music for BABEL and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN will do the compositions. Paul Williams will write the lyrics.
Del Toro has been secretly working on this for four years, and spent time interviewing directors, librettists and composers. He said this of his music team, “I admire and love Gustavo and Paul wrote the perfect album in Phantom Of The Paradise, which I have loved for decades.” With PACIFIC RIM coming next year, then following it with haunted house flick, CRIMSON PEAK, del Toro has no problem with taking on several projects. The guy is amazing.
Personally, I think PAN’S is perfect for something like this. With me, musicals can be a definite hit or miss, but the musical could be something just as magical as the film, especially since del Toro has been so dedicated to doing it. I can’t wait to see the outcome.