Hugh Jackman can sing, but on the big screen he hasn’t really had the chance to show off his pipes. But that’s not for lack of trying. Since at least 2009, he’s been trying to mount the P.T. Barnum musical "The Greatest Showman On Earth," and though it has moved in fits and starts, now it looks like it’s finally happening.
Deadline reports that the film—the first original Hollywood musical since "Newsies"—will finally start shooting next summer in New York City. The Fox production (the studio likely thanking Jackman for his ‘X-Men‘ efforts by getting this one going) has commercial director Michael Gracey lined up to get behind the camera, with a script from Bill Condon ("Gods And Monsters," "Chicago"), and songs by the Tony-nominated Justin Paul & Benz Pasek, Bonnie McKee, Jake Shear, and Brian Lapin. Basically, it’s all top shelf talent.
As for the story, it was previously reported that it centers on Barnum’s adoration for Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, but now appears to be more vaguely about his development of the three ring circus. So, we’ll see. We wonder what Fox will do if upcoming musicals "Annie" and "Into The Woods," set up at Sony and Disney respectively, flop next month. Will they get gunshy? We’ll see over the next few weeks.