Are we really getting TEN movie musicals in 2021?
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 9:00PM by Nathaniel R
In the Heights
In the recent Yes No Maybe So post I mentioned that we were getting three musicals in the space of seven months. But that was a gross understatement as I hadn't yet finished my Oscar chart research for 2021. There are actually TEN musicals... no make that eleven (!) that are supposed to arrive before Christmas. Release dates are subject to change, of course. The current schedule represents Hollywood doubling-down, no quintupling down, on audiences salivating en masse for musicals in the way they currently only do for animated fare and superhero films. (That'd be a wonderful world of course, if audiences were so inclined.)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton fame, is spectacularly talented but looking at this schedule we're a little worried for him. We don't want Miranda to become the next Ryan Murphy -- i.e. stretched thin, predictable, veering into being a Brand first and artist second, and offering diminishing returns. Given that Miranda is involved in more than a third of these musicals, that's a major oversaturation risk. Tell us which of these ten you're most excited about in the comments...
In the Heights (June 11th, Warner Bros/HBO Max in theaters & streaming)
The 2008 Best Musical Tony winner written and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda made him famous. He's playing a supporting role in the movie this time with Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born, Hamilton) taking over the leading role. Olga Merediz reprises her Tony-nominated supporting role of Abuela Cladia.
Annette (Amazon, August 6th, in theaters and streaming?)
This musical drama was originally expected in 2020 but... you know... COVID-19 intervened. It's now ready to go and it's currently planning on a summer bow. It is an original musical from the always provocative French director Leos Carax (Lovers on the Bridge, Holy Motors) and it's about a comedia (Adam Driver) and his opera singer wife (Marion Cotillard) and their gifted child.
Dear Evan Hansen (September 24th, Universal Pictures in theaters)
The 2017 Best Musical Tony winner (it also won Best Featured Actress and Best Actor for the central mother and son characters) gets a live-action production with its original star (Ben Platt) and Julianne Moore in the key roles. The doomed character of Connor, whose suicide kicks off the plot, was played by Mike Faist on Broadway (Tony nomination) and though Faist isnt in this movie he'll potentially break out in another screen musical this year; he's playing the Russ Tamblyn "Riff" role in the West Side Story remake.
Cinderella (September TBA, Sony/Amazon in theaters/VOD)
Showbiz's favourite fairy tale has been told so many times that there are multiple non-musical and musical adaptations. What's more the musical adaptations are frequent enough that they aren't even remakes of each other but have their own scores! The latest will star Camila Cabello and comes from writer/director Kay Cannon and co-writer James Corden (sigh) who Hollywood feels duty-bound to cast in everything. Since he co-wrote and produced this one we'll let it slide. THIS ONE TIME. Seriously Hollywood we don't need this much James Corden every year. There are other actors; many of them are funnier and better at acting!
Encanto (November 24th, Disney in theaters?)
A Lin-Manuel Miranda original animated musical for Disney. It's about a young Colombian girl who comes from a magical family.
West Side Story (December 20th, 20th Century Studios/Disney in theaters)
Steven Spielberg's remake of the 1961 Best Picture winning classic, which was itself based on the 1958 Tony nominated musical which was itself a loose adaptation/riff on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.
Sing 2 (December 22nd, Universal Pictures in theaters)
A sequel to the very popular animated animals singing contest movie.
TBA BUT ALSO EXPECTED THIS CALENDAR YEAR
Vivo (previously scheduled for June from Sony. 2021 TBA on Netflix)
Another Lin-Manuel Miranda original animated musical. This was originally scheduled for June the week before In the Heights opened. Now its both no longer dated and headed to Netflix. It's about a kinkajou travelling to Miami to deliver a message in the form of a song.
Everybody's Talking about Jamie (previously scheduled for 2020. Amazon, streaming in September)
This British stage hit about a teenager who wants to be a drag queen got a feature adaptation last year. It was delayed due to COVID. It was a Fox production that Amazon has now bought... Did Disney not want it? Perhaps too adult for Disney Plus?
Tony winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo rehearsing for a concert version of "Tick Tick Boom!" several years ago.
tick...tick... Boom! (TBA on Netflix)
A FOURTH LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA MUSICAL. Well... not exactly. This one is actually written by the late composer Jonathan Larson (of Rent fame) but Lin-Manuel Miranda is testing the waters of movie directing with it, rather than directing his own piece In the Heights as his debut behind the camera. It's like musical chairs for this genre. We suspect this is Miranda's self-audition and if he pulls it off, he'll want to oversee the Hamilton film version. tick... tick... Boom! is an autobiographical musical and Andrew Garfield is playing the late composer. Bradley Whitford is in a supporting role as the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim. The cast is filled with great Broadway talent, too. Tony winner Judith Light (Other Desert Cities, The Assembled Parties), and Tony nominees Beth Malone (Fun Home), Joshua Henry (Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys), and Robin de Jesus (In the Heights, Boys in the Band, La Cage Aux Folles) all appear.
Cyrano (MGM/UA, TBA in theaters)
Joe Wright (Atonement, Woman in the Window) is directing this musical version of the oft-told Cyrano Bergerac tale and it will star Peter Dinklage. This is adapted from a 2019 Off-Broadway production that starred Dinklage with songs by members of the band The National. Dinklage is the only cast member making the leap to the film which will now also star Kelvin Harrison Jr as Christian, Ben Mendelsohn as De Guiche, and Haley Bennett as Roxanne. Though it doesn't have a release date yet it was already in post production several months ago.
ELEVEN MUSICALS. HOLLYWOOD FINALLY DECIDED YOU LOVED THE GENRE. I MEAN, WE DO... BUT WE DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE LISTENING.
Reader Comments (40)
I love movie musicals but the only one I'm really excited for is IN THE HEIGHTS. I'm sure I'll watch WEST SIDE STORY, just as a Spielberg (near) completest--one of these days I've got to see ALWAYS and THE TERMINAL. The Robert Wise WSS is good enough for me--don't @ me Bernstein fanatics! Why didn't Spielberg and Kushner actually challenge themselves and go for CANDIDE? If DEAR EVAN HANSEN isn't a train wreck (I'd say it's a 50/50 shot--I'm more optimistic than some) I'll watch that; we'll see what the critics say. The others will have to get really strong reviews to lure me to the theater. ENCANTO might be fun. Who knows?
But can always stay home and watch my Warner Archive Blu-rays of Fried Unit musicals...
Not to repeat myself, but I fear this is going to misfire. Can we save half for 2022?
There's also Cinderella starring Camila Cabello
I hate being that guy, but I love her, so I must point out that Judith Light is a Tony winner for both of the shows listed behind her name.
I have zero ability to access a film's quality based on a trailer, but I think West Side Story and Dear Evan Hansen both look really good.
I don’t count the animated ones as musicals.
One or two will tank and we'll have to kiss Sunset Blvd. goodbye.
There's also Cinderella starring Camila Cabello
I hear Camila Cabello is going to be in Cinderella.
@Peggy Sue. An Andrew Lloyd Webber musical being cancelled is NOT a bad thing. It's a bullet being dodged. Glenn Close can win her Oscar starring in something worthwhile. Lloyd Webber hardly got Madonna, Gerard Butler, Taylor Swift, or James Cordon any Oscar love. Are there ANY of those films you'd actually pay to see again?
Ben Platt looks so skinny and unhealthy in that trailer. Is that part of the character??
Obviously the Carax is the most exciting!
Dan -- raises hand for Evita. ;) but point taken overall. And I've added Cinderella to the post. I think i blocked it out because it's yet more James Corden and he is so freaking exhausting.
Ashley -- he's supposed to be a neurotic mess so not looking well works for the character.
Marielle -- to each their own. To me if characters sing and dance it's a musical. But I hear you becasue when i think of my favourite musicals I never include the animated ones even though some of them have great scores. But even if you subtract the animated ones that's still 8 live action musicals. EIGHT. In one calendar year. which is awesome but crazy because it probably means there will be none next year *cries*
And I know these two don't count but filmed versions of their Broadway shows (ala HAMILTON on Disney+ last year) is happening for COME FROM AWAY (Apple+) and DIANA THE MUSICAL (Netflix) later this year as well. It's good to be a Broadway/musical fan.
How an animated film couldn't count as musical when in fact, musical is a movie genre and animation is not?
Is easy to notice the diference between films that have some songs as complement (The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Toy Story) and the ones with a strong musical component (A Nightmare Before Christmas, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Trolls)
About the post, the film I'm more interested for is the directed by Leos Carax.
Annette is the musical that I want to see. Why? Leos Carax, Marion Cotillard, Adam Driver, and Sparks. If any of you don't like Sparks. Fuck you and die!
Most excited for In The Heights, most intrigued by Annette, wary/dubious of West Side Story and Dear Evan Hansen.
I also have a level of interest in the others, except maybe Cinderella. I know the Lily James version wasn't a musical, but can we let her and Snow White rest for a minute?
After Joe Wright's last few movies, I'm not sure why anyone would be excited by Cyrano (and I've heard bad things about the original off-Broadway production).
The main reason I'm interested in tick...tick...Boom! is Andrew Garfield, because he's clearly been taking risky big swings lately, even if they sometimes don't work.
In the Heights looks fun! West Side Story seems well-shot but the trailer hasn't sold me on a compelling reason to remake it.
Annette! The Cannes trailer is REALLY hiding that it's a musical, which worries me. I'm also convinced its going to be more for cinephiles than for musical fans (which is okay by me), as Sparks mentioned that the style of singing is unusual. And can Driver carry a musical? He's an incredibly compelling actor but who knows if he has the range for this. I'm fascinated by that casting because he would not have been an obvious choice for this (especially for financing purposes) given that he committed to the project pre-Star Wars casting.
I’ll tell you the truth...but only offline over drinks. Too many bridges I’d rather not burn...
Forgive me Nathanial. I'll never pass up an opportunity to bash ALW. I know it's juvenile. I just think he was put on earth to make Stephen Sondheim seem even greater than he would without the comparison.
Ummmm, being animated or not has nothing to do for a film’s qualifications as a musical. If there are several full songs where characters breakout in full musical number/ballad/etc, that’s a musical. I hate when people try to ghettoize animation.
Honestly, theaters need huge show pieces right now and musicals fit the bill. Excited for many of these, and hoping audiences show up for them.
I’m pretty excited for a handful of these musicals! Don’t forget we also got the original musical BEST SUMMER EVER which features a cameo by Maggie Gyllenhaal earlier this Spring: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rXZGvturIAo
I'm hoping Everybody Talks About Jamie has a Billy Elliot style success story and gets Sarah Lancashire (the best actress the UK has imo) to the Oscars. They have a BIG song, He's My Boy and you just know Sarah will kill it.
I'm really excited for In the Heights - it's one of my most anticipated of the year. I hadn't seen the Everybody's Talking About Jamie trailer before, but it looks great, a throwback to the type of small British film that used to break out because it was so genuinely heartwarming. I'm not sure that type of film can still get a big audience, but it could become a cult classic, a la Sing Street.
Nathaniel, the Hollywood Reporter just released a story about Amazon acquiring Everbody Wants Jamie just for streaming--no theatrical release. Releases September of this year.
Lin-Manuel really really wants his PEGOT. He's going to be the third PEGOT in History, after Richard Rodgers and Marvin Hamlisch.
Wouldn't it be awesome if Lin-Manuel got eleven nominations? Best Picture and Director (tick tick boom), Best Picture and Supporting Actor (In The Heights), Best Screenplay and Song x2 (Encanto), Best Screenplay, Score and Songs x2 (Vivo).
Kate -- thanks. will udpate.
Did anyone else think the Cinderella pic was Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones? Now *that* would be a Cinderella of diminishing returns
Couldn't Spielberg challenge with something like 'Wicked?,' something that hasn't since the light of day yet? he has the clout to get those film rights in line? Do we really need more remakes/re-imagining/updated projects? I want NEW stuff!
Everyone's saying the "calendar year" but last I looked it's almost half over. So they're cramming these 11 musicals into 6 or 7 months? Amazing. It's almost like this is 1964/65 again.
If you google the Camilla Cabello Cinderella you get a hysterical fan mad trailer
Dave -- yep. 11 MUSICALS in a span of 7 months if the release plans hold.
Jaragon -- i did Google and i was like WHU??? lol.
Speaking of J____ C_____, I just watched the Friends reunion trailer and he’s hosting it from the sound of it. (They wisely don’t show him.) I hope that doesn’t ruin it for me.
As I said on Oscar night, Heights looks like a Pat Benatar video. I'm coming around to the West Side Story redux, though. For all the musicals my friends will drag me to, I can bet some good money they'll turn their noses up at Annette (which is the one that I really want to see from this crop). One good thing about lockdown is that I didn't have to see The Prom in the theater.
@cal roth. I quite like Lin-Manuel but I certainly wouldn't like insufferable M-MM. If he got more than five nominations in a single year, he'd start making people carry him down the red carpet in a palanquin.
And they’ll be no golden globes this year for this category.
Aside from IN THE HEIGHTS, the one I'm most looking forward to is Cyrano.
The best parts of The Darkest Hour and The Woman in the Window were the most Joe Wright-ian moments, so just imagine what imagine how spectacular he could go when not held back by genre (biopic/thriller) conventions.
Plus there's a due narrative for all the main cast which always makes it exciting.
All in for ALL of them. I was so DISAPPOINTED with The Prom; hoping these 11 will give me the musical feels I need.
Most excited about: Everybody's Talking About Jamie (enjoyed the BBC doc it was based on, songs are a good mix of bops and ballads; sad that Disney couldn't get over its homophobic self and put this damn thing into a theater last year)
Least excited about: Dear Evan Hansen. (Platt has a lovely voice, but what the frick-frack is that show even about? I do really like Kaitlin Dever, and Amandla Stenberg was fabulous in the underseen The Eddy)
Also you missed "Carmen", directed by Benjamin Millepied (Natalie Portman's husband) with some of the same crew and writer of Birdman, starring Paul Mescal, Melissa Barrera and Rossy de Palma.