THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

[jo]

Arriving this spring, the Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails will combine two elements that’ll undoubtedly attract the most dapper of gents: a handsomely designed grooming parlor and a swanky speakeasy. While the three-chair salon promises to be a premier destination for straight-razor shaves, it’s the Prohibition-era lounge that we’re most looking forward to. Hidden behind a mirrored wall in the front foyer, an unassuming janitor’s door reveals a room decked out with crystal chandeliers, plush couches, and a handcrafted bar from the 1800s. But this isn’t just any old bar: Aside from being designed by John Moses Brunswick, this particular gem appeared in The Greatest Showman. Yes, the same one that Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron share a few shots at; the same one Efron dances across in an effort to show up Jackman’s character—just keep that in mind while you’re ordering a drink.

Does it come complete with bartender Daniel Cloud Campos

I am not very clear about the write-up. Is it saying that the bar used in The Greatest Showman was designed as a production set...and will now be sent to or copied per se for the new Las Vegas attraction? Because I thought the scenes were filmed at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn.

Which is presumably the same bar used for FROM NOW ON ?

Whichever it was -- that was one of the gems from the movie.


Jo

[jo]

[jo]

Extreme closeups!

[jo]

High-definition ( 4K UHD BluRay) screenshots.


THE GREATEST SHOW
















COME ALIVE

[jo]

Is a movie sequel to THE GREATEST SHOWMAN on its way?


www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/8491045/hugh-jackman-greatest-showman-sequel-success-first-movie/

The Sun is a tabloid. Has the story been verified ( it might be more credible if there is a clip of Michael Gracey being quoted directly on the possibility)? The Sun is also part of the NEWS group, which is now the main holdings of Rupert Murdoch ( it is possible that they had some access to Gracey). Interestingly the comment from one reader says that the Exec Editor who wrote this has some occasional credibility issues. There is a photo of Michael Gracey attached to the article - no info if that was taken by The Sun itself. Michael was acknowledged by Hugh as having worked on the Opening Number at the BRITs. The spectacle scale ( including the use of the big screens with dancers as backdrop) seemed like Michael's signature work.

The Sun, A News UK Company
News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.



THE SHOWMAN MUST GO ON Hugh Jackman secretly begins work on The Greatest Showman sequel after huge success of first movie
The Aussie actor is already working behind-the-scenes on the new blockbuster with director Michael Gracey
Exclusive

By Dan Wootton, Executive Editor
22nd February 2019, 9:29 pmUpdated: 22nd February 2019, 10:08 pm

HUGH Jackman has secretly begun work on a sequel to The Greatest Showman, The Sun can reveal.
Director Michael Gracey said he and the Aussie actor are laying the foundations for a follow-up after its global success.

20th Century Fox
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A sequel to the Hugh Jackman musical phenomenon The Greatest Showman is already being made, The Sun can reveal


The film was predicted to be a flop by critics on its release in late 2017. But it proved a hit and went on to become the third highest-grossing musical in history.
Jackman, 50, opened this week’s Brit Awards with a performance as circus legend PT Barnum after the soundtrack became the biggest selling album of last year on both sides of the Atlantic.

In London to support his leading man, Gracey told The Sun: “When a movie becomes as big a success as this, it’s only natural there is demand for a sequel.

“So those discussions have started and we are working on one right now.”

Getty - Contributor
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Hugh Jackman opened the Brit Awards this week with a performance as circus man P. T. Barmum
It is not yet known if the new film will follow on from the first or be a prequel.

Jackman is expected to lead the cast but the involvement of his co-stars Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Keala Settle is unclear. However, acclaimed songwriting duo Pasek and Paul — behind hits including This Is Me and Never Enough — are likely to return.

Gracey also spoke of the struggles faced during eight years of trying to get The Greatest Showman made.

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Jackman is is already working behind-the-scenes on the new blockbuster with director Michael Gracey




He said: “There were huge doubts about it for a very long time and some backers withdrew their money.”
A Hollywood source added: “The critics hated it and it was predicted to be a massive flop. But then people power took over and there hasn’t been a box office sensation like it in years.”


Alamy Live News
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Keala Settle, Zendaya, Hugh Jackman, Michael Gracey and Zac Efron all star in the movie

AP:Associated Press
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Zac Efron, left and Hugh Jackman both star in The Greatest Showman in an all-star cast


Play Video

Brits 2019 - Host Jack Whitehall performs with Hugh Jackman during opening ceremony of the Brit Awards 2019

Michael Gracey has also been quoted in the past ( I think it may also have been The Sun?) that a stage adaptation is in the works? So, which piece of gossip seems to have more credibility weight


Jo

[jo]

From the report of The Sun --

'There were huge doubts about it for a very long time,' he said, 'and some backers withdrew their money.'

I have heard before from an insider contact that there was one major potential investor ( I know the name but can't disclose it here) who was seriously interested but that didn't seemed to have panned out. I think at that time Chernin Entertainment ( Peter Chernin was a former NEWS Corp exec who became a major investor in many Fox films after he left NEWS Corp, as part of a deal) was not yet an investor in the film ( but came in later).





The Daily Mail quotes The Sun in its coverage of the possible sequel... but also adds more info.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6735723/Hugh-Jackman-working-sequel-Greatest-Showman-following-musicals-huge-success.html

The 50-year-old Australia native got back into character as Barnum Wednesday as he performed in a London’s O2 Arena for the Brit Awards, as he was flanked by costumed dancers on a lavish, circus-themed stage decked out with pyrotechnics.

Jackman didn't deny a sequel was in the offing when he spoke with the BBC on the red carpet at the award show when asked if a second installment was coming.

'For an actor I'm a bad liar,' he said. 'I have heard talk about it. But I don't know.'

This was where details from the BBC report came from --

Feb 20, 2019 15:32:14 GMT -5 jo said:

[jo]

Further to that --

The BBC.com site disclosed this:

www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47314017

Most welcome news - Hugh Jackman

Image copyright
Getty Images

Hugh Jackman opened the Brits in style, playing circus impresario PT Barnum inside Britain's largest tent - as he delivered an elaborate performance of The Greatest Show - from his hit musical The Greatest Showman.

But the star delighted fans even more by giving the strongest hint yet that the film would be getting a sequel.

"For an actor, I'm a bad liar," he told the BBC. "I have heard talk about it but I don't know.

"Honestly, that [the original] took eight years and you can't underestimate how hard it is to write a new musical....

"At the same time, you're talking to the guy who made nine Wolverine movies."

Fingers and adamantium steel claws crossed, in that case.

[jo]

This is speculation on my part --

I wonder if the choice of a sequel/prequel OR a stage adaptation of the original movie came from DISNEY itself after it may have formally acquired the FOX creative assets?

Maybe to Disney, the box office potential of a new film ( given the worldwide success of the movie and its soundtrack) sounds much, much more promising than a stage adaptation which has a limited revenue potential ( unless it runs practically forever, in which case the cast replacement issue will have to be dealt with). They may have also noted the strong appeal of the movie and its soundtrack to the unexpected fanbase -- the young kids ( Disney's natural audience)!


Maybe the 2 options were being explored simultaneously? And maybe a decision has already been made clearer at this point, which is Michael Gracey gave strong hints on it?


Jo

[jo]

Did we stumble into something when this was mentioned in the Rolling Stones interview about the upcoming world tour ( somewhere on Page 2 of the World Tour thread) --

“I really want to do some original music for this show,” the actor tells Rolling Stone. “I’m hoping to have written something that I can perform. I really want to write with Justin [Paul] and Benj [Pasek], who did The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hanson the musical — I love Dear Evan Hanson and I would love to do a song from that as well — and I’m literally doing all those workshops now, deciding what all the material is going to be.”

Given the rehearsals that will take place, why would Hugh all of sudden go into song-writing? I can understand if he wanted to do screenwriting because of his journalism background, but to take another career turn and become a songwriter? Has that ever been in his bucket list? Hmmm... never mentioned it. And why Pasek&Paul in particular?

What if that piece of info about writing something with Pasek&Paul have something to do with the musical score of a sequel/prequel to The Greatest Showman


Of course it could also be for a possible stage adaptation, albeit my own guess is that Disney may want to proceed more towards a film sequel?

It would be great and such a treat to possibly premiere it in his upcoming show tour, just as he tried out THIS IS ME in his Broadway to Oz tour!

Imagination(mine) running wild


Jo

[jo]

Fair comment. Unfortunately, in the land of showbusiness, the investors prefer to put their money on proven products. It took the original movie some 8 years to get released as a film … because the genre was considered too risky and many felt musicals no longer cater to general audience tastes.

If the news of a potential sequel is true and in the works -- it must be such a liberating feeling for the original creative team (and the workshop team for the score and the cast as well) to know that they will have a different footing this time around.

If the sequel does not materialize ( we need to wait for maybe an official Disney announcement) but Hugh moves on to another new musical - I think we have faith in him to carry it through, albeit it may take a more circuitous route.

Hoping for the best!


Jo

[jo]

Oh, oh -- it looks the tweet I was referring to was deleted by the tweeter. She said that she would much prefer to see Hugh in another movie musical instead of a sequel of TGS. She says Hugh has brought on the revival of movie musicals by himself ( paraphrasing here, can't remember exact words).

[jo]

Re the "news" of a sequel is all over mass and social media! Maybe Gracey should have been more circumspect and simply said that is one option being floated around. Gracey can be stubborn and very outspoken though ( he did battle with Fox Marketing on how to publicize TGS via its trailers)…

I have a feeling that they may have been given the go-signal " to develop the material" but were not given explicit approval? Maybe Gracey decided to open it up to the public to put some pressure on whichever unit ( Fox or Disney or the exec-in-charge) is responsible for project development? If so, I wonder if they have been given a budget for that purpose. I remember that early workshops then were partly at the expense of Hugh.

Hugh is more circumspect( as he usually is -- he may be Mr. Blabbermouth on his personal matters or advocacies...but he is always mum when it comes to announcing projects he may be involved in. Also, he lets official announcements come from the project owners. I wonder how he will reply to this, if asked in public?


Pasek and Paul have a number of commitments to write songs or complete scores for animation ( not so sure if there are any live-action). When can they do this- unless, they have actually started on it without us being aware of it ( maybe even with Hugh as part of the songwriting team)? Also, the score of TGS was done in complete collaboration with Gracey ( he would conceptualize what he needs a song for, before the composers start work on it) - maybe that was why Gracey was a bit confident saying that they are now working on it? Does this mean the Broadway project may have been shelved?


Jo

[jo]

The tweet reappeared. Sometimes Twitter has some technical problems maybe because of the hundred million tweets being uploaded every time

[jo]

Too much pressure from the adoring public

[jo]

While doing the press tour in his homeland, Hugh has been candid what the turning point of his career has been. In 2017, two distinct genres became his most successful movies and the culmination of his supposed "front nine" of his career. LOGAN ended his 17-year tenure as Wolverine in the genre which built his career and The Greatest Showman became a slowburn success in a genre that was not a current favorite.


From hereon, he shares some memories and how he now looks at his career --

www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/it-was-looking-grim-how-hugh-jackman-s-greatest-showman-gamble-paid-off-20190226-p510cs.html

'It was looking grim': How Hugh Jackman's Greatest Showman gamble paid off

By Robert Moran
February 26, 2019 — 12.23pm


When hit movie musical The Greatest Showman opened in Australian cinemas around Christmas 2017, Hugh Jackman briefly thought he'd all but sabotaged his career.


"When a movie comes out, in my position, you get emails from people at the studio - we got nothing. I mean, nothing," he said. "Not even a 'well, we gave it our best shot.' It was looking grim... But then, word of mouth."
After one of the world ever opening weekends the film launched its slow-burn success. At last count, it's now the third-most successful movie musical ever, with a soundtrack that was last year's top-selling album.

Hugh Jackman announced the Australian leg of his arena tour in Sydney.


"I knew what the downside was for sure," says Jackman. "I'd always wanted to do movie musicals, and it's always the thing where Hollywood's like, 'Eh, we're not sure.' We were the first original movie musical in 23 years; Newsies was the only one before that.

"It was a big risk and I remember thinking, if we get this wrong, I'm not saying I'll never be in a movie musical again, but I'll never be the lead in one... But there's been so many blessings in it; I'm glad I took the risk."

Jackman in The Greatest Showman.
Credit:
Fox


The film's unlikely success has spawned Jackman's next move: a return to his onstage roots, with a national arena tour titled The Man. The Music. The Show.

The tour will see the Tony winner playing more than a dozen dates across Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane in August, performing songs from across his career including The Boy From Oz, Les Miserables and, of course, The Greatest Showman, with his co-star Keala Settle, the voice of the film's empowering Oscar-nominated This Is Me, joining him for the entire Australia/New Zealand run.

"There's a saying about musicals, that it works because of the book or the story but people love it because of the music. People love that music," says Jackman of The Greatest Showman's appeal.

Jackman will be touring with Greatest Showman co-star Keala Settle.
Credit:
AAP

"It's one of the reasons I'm doing this [tour]. I get videos every day, and I tear up when people send me dances from weddings, choirs, school groups, you name it. These songs and that movie mean something to people."


The tour's run, which also includes dates in Europe and the US before Australia, finds Jackman interrupting what might be his most successful acting stint, after earning acclaim for dramatic turns in Logan and The Front Runner. Jackman, now 50, is unconcerned.


"It feels like a privilege; I was really excited to basically give the year up for it," he says of the arena tour. "I'm at a point in my career where I don't worry about that stuff: momentum, trajectory, or what people think. I really sort of march to the beat of my own drummer now, and I don't think I've always been like that."

The Man. The Music. The Show. tour kicks off at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on August 2, with tickets on sale on March 7.

We all remember how we suffered with him when the first reviews and box office results came in

And then... the recovery in January and on to become the leggiest movie in recent box office history in the USA/UK! We first noted the 90% range of Audience Scores on Rotten Tomatoes ( in contrast to the very low score, ratings-wise). We began to be aware of the box office support when Scott Mendelson ( previously an unbeliever) of Forbes reported about the incredible phoenix-like rise of the movie musical, week-in and week-out. We loved the review of Variety's Owen Gleiberman ( amidst the sea of critical panning and dissing) as he praised the movie for what it has made him and us feel.

And when the NYTimes asked readers to share why they loved The Greatest Showman when the hallmarks of success ( box office and critical ratings) were not there - fans responded so strongly with their reasons for loving the movie and its music!

It brought joy into everyone's heart and we could not get enough of the movie and the music.

Its box office success was then replicated in singalongs, in the tremendous chart-busting success of the album … and the unbelievable social media reactions! From age 3 to 93 ( maybe 83 )! We were all singing/dancing along in whatever kind of voice/terpsichorean quality we could find … The home video release in the USA was top 3 ( bested only by Last Jedi and one of the Avengers) for the year! The album has earned double platinum ( at least 2 million) in the USA ( still on the charts as of now), with many of the singles certified Gold or Platinum... and in the UK now certified for 6 X times platinum (1.8 million)...and on a worldwide basis, the best-selling album of the year with about 5.3 million!

How ironic then that Hugh Jackman was asked to give the musical Opening number for an awards show ( the BRITs) that was more to do with pop/rock music! And he did not disappoint!


Perhaps, the real theme song of Hugh's career at this point is not really THE GREATEST SHOW... but --

A million dreams!

for everything seems to be falling into place for this entertainer whose main career thrust is to show us his "joy in performing", whether before the cameras or live onstage!


One day soon … we hope that the culmination is Oscar glory (whether it comes from a dramatic portrayal... or even a Logan-like action characterization... or another musical performance... can be in any genre because Hugh Jackman is versatility and talent personified)... to bring him into the rarified group called the EGOTs!



Jo

[jo]

Vanity Fair has picked up the story of the next phase of the enduring success of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN.


www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/02/greatest-showman-sequel



After more recent successes for Hugh and his passion project ( Continuing chart success of the soundtrack, the Grammy win, and BRITs Opening Number) -- the new phases have stepped into what Hugh Jackman says he basically gave up a year for :

*A 62-date ( as of now ) World Music Tour that will take him from Europe/Uk to the USA/Canada … and then to Australia ( and already announced but no dates yet for New Zealand).


*Then the development work now supposed to be ongoing for director Michael Gracey and Hugh on a film sequel to The Greatest Showman.


*Vanity Fair speculates that any sequel will not likely focus on Barnum's life as a politician... but more likely on the later stages of the circus? Hmmm... could it also be more of a flashback as well as a sequel?


Nothing much we haven't known or read about -- but it is good that the subject is in the current conversation with major entertainment media! The same media who couldn't quite believe the unfolding and continuing success of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN!

It also helps build further interest in the upcoming musical dates with Hugh Jackman!


Jo

[JH4HJ]

Hugh Jackman - The Greatest Show (from The Greatest Showman) [Live at The BRITS 2019]

I hope this isn't redundant . . . but, worth watching more than once anyway.



Some of the fan comments are quite entertaining too.

He slice
He dice
But most importantly,
He sing nice

[jo]

I do believe in redundancy especially if it involves Showman Jackman, Valerie

The BRITs Opening Number reignited once again the love of the movie and its score by the Brits( the people)! If people had dallied about seeing Hugh's upcoming Music Tour, this was the right push to check out that Hugh Jackman's performing talent seen live matches what he displayed in the movie, unvarnished!

Jo

[jo]

Unfortunately this sour grapes critic from Australia critiqued even a press member who interviewed Hugh for the Australian media.

dailyreview.com.au/hugh-jackmans-appearance-730-week-highlights-problems-starry-eyed-cultural-journalism/81234/




I looked up how he reviewed The Greatest Showman -- and this is the worst one -- not because of what he wrote about what he thought of the movie and its veracity to history, supposedly ( to each his own...just like the critic in the movie) ...but how he attacked Hugh personally!

dailyreview.com.au/greatest-showman-greatest-kind-con-repugnant-film-full-lies/69588/


I also read the readers reactions ( see it after the article) and they were probably 95% critical of what he wrote - in terms of his objectivity!

[jo]

Excerpts from his review that criticized Hugh as a person --

The reason the protagonist’s behaviour is not questioned in any way – quite the opposite – is because it runs counter to the film’s core message: that Barnum was a saviour who, as an initially snooty and later fawning theatre critic portrayed by Paul Sparks puts it, created “a celebration of humanity” in his museum. Did Jackman wince when he read that line in the screenplay? Did any alarm bells go off?

Perhaps the actor hoped Gracey’s song and dance numbers – full of cheesy images and contemporary lyrics, despite the story taking place in the nineteenth century – would tape over any plot or thematic weaknesses. It is becoming increasingly obvious that Jackman, like his character, is something of a huckster himself, well beyond the ‘savvy businessman’, with a classy, clean-cut image that beautifully camouflages a tenacious spirit – and in this instance a dubious, if not downright repugnant product.

When Jackman, while introducing The Greatest Showman at its Australian premiere, brought up the recent Fox/Disney merger to a Moët-infused audience, assuring the crowd it would not result in a reduction of quality content, who was he really speaking to, or for? When Jackman reflected on how greatly the script for a Lipton Iced Tea commercial connected with him on a personal level, because that delicious drink “can really keep you cool under pressure”, was he actually talking from the heart? Scarier than the duplicity of a “no” is the possibility of an earnest “yes.”

[jo]

Being a Jackman fan and whose comments might also be viewed as less objective --

I looked for a well-thought out review from an impeccable source -- the trade paper VARIETY ( certainly a much more influential trade paper on Hollywood and its movies than Luke B's Daily Review) -- and here is Owen Gleiberman's review written when the movie was first released.

And do read the readers reactions, too -- much more than 95% agreement and more with the Gleiberman ode to The Greatest Showman!

variety.com/2017/film/reviews/the-greatest-showman-review-hugh-jackman-1202644784/

[hughmanity]

Here is the video of the interview referenced by that sanctimonious prig who presumes to know the mind and morals of Hugh Jackman.
It is a lovely interview.

[mamaleh]

Yikes, who urinated in that critic’s cornflakes? It’s one thing to dislike a movie for whatever reasons, but to call its star a “huckster” peddling a noxious product is so far over the line that it’s ludicrous.

As to the film’s veracity, it’s unfair to apply modern sensibilities and societal norms to an earlier century not yet fully cognizant of what people in power should aspire to be. But even so, Barnum does not come across as an angel; in fact some scenes don’t hide aspects of his darker side. Redemption comes at the end, as it often does in a feel-good family musical. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

I’m glad Hugh doesn’t read reviews. At least he had plenty of defenders in the comments section.

Ellen

[jo]

So many critiques have been written of the movie...so many explanations of its cultural impact...but this is the first that looks at its themes for Lenten reflection! It is very thoughtful!


www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/8-march/features/features/finding-redemption-in-the-smash-hit-musical-the-greatest-showman



Excerpts :

ULTIMATELY, The Greatest Showman is dazzling entertainment, and no one should attempt to make it something it is not. Part of the reason that it has struck such a deep chord with so many, however, lies in the way in which it models relationship, friendship, and community.

[jo]

Interesting analysis of Hugh Jackman's vocal range using music from The Greatest Showman --