Sunset Boulevard Movie Musical

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Glenn Close's 'Sunset Boulevard' Movie Musical Finds Its Director

Tony-winning choreographer Rob Ashford will make his feature helming debut with Paramount's adaptation of the Broadway musical that in turn was taken from the 1950 silver screen classic.
Tony-winning choreographer Rob Ashford is attached to direct Paramount’s big-screen take of Broadway’s musical adaptation of the screen classic Sunset Boulevard, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Glenn Close, the seven-time Oscar nominee, will star in the production, reprising the role she played to great acclaim on Broadway twice before.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is among the producers of the project, adapted from the 1950 black-and-white classic that starred Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a faded and deluded silent-screen star who ensnares a down-on-his-luck screenwriter (William Holden) into her fantasy of making a comeback. A byzantine love story ensues that ends, ultimately, in tragedy.

Close is playing Desmond, a role she portrayed when the musical hit Broadway in 1994, winning her third Tony Award; she reprised the part to great acclaim in a 2016 revival that played both London and New York. The musical features a score by Lloyd Webber, with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The original production won seven Tonys in all, including best musical, book and original score.

Paramount had no comment.

A fall start is being eyed. Close had been loosely attached to the project since last year, but pieces were not coalescing until a director was found.

Ashford won a Tony for best choreography for 2002’s Thoroughly Modern Millie and earned nominations for the musicals The Wedding Singer, Curtains, Cry-Baby, Promises, Promises and Evita. He also earned best director and best choreography nominations for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which starred Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette.

Ashford worked as a choreographer on several Academy Awards shows and gained notices for his stage direction and choreography for the live television presentation of The Sound of Music andPeter Pan Live!

Ashford is currently represented on Broadway as choreographer of Disney's Frozen musical.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Not usually one for musicals but Sunset Boulevard is my all-time #2 movie so I'm definitely interested.

 

[Pink Ranger]

The musical itself is kind of basic, but it has provided so many ageing actresses with a great role they can all keep reprising until they die. Part of me wants to see Tom Holland in the role of Joe; totally the opposite of the kind of actor they usually get for that role (usually it goes to a Hugh Jackman type) but having someone more like Tom will give this movie a certain ick factor that will help differentiate it from the stage musical and get it better critical notice.

 

[terry78]

It's no Oscar but it's a choice role.

 

[Abudefduf]

There's a Sunset Boulevard musical? Okay. The original movie is great, so count me on board for this? I guess?

 

[Pink Ranger]

The role of Norma Desmond is like the evolutionary last common ancestor between old women and gay men.

 

[sueb1863]

Will they try to get Glenn Close for Norma?

 

[Sawyer]

Will they try to get Glenn Close for Norma?

....

Glenn Close, the seven-time Oscar nominee, will star in the production, reprising the role she played to great acclaim on Broadway twice before.

 

[terry78]

Well, are they?

 

[Jonwo]

The musical itself is kind of basic, but it has provided so many ageing actresses with a great role they can all keep reprising until they die. Part of me wants to see Tom Holland in the role of Joe; totally the opposite of the kind of actor they usually get for that role (usually it goes to a Hugh Jackman type) but having someone more like Tom will give this movie a certain ick factor that will help differentiate it from the stage musical and get it better critical notice.

Holland is far too young to play Joe Gillis both in age and looks wise. I suspect they'll go for someone in their mid to late 30s, maybe early 40s at a push like Chris Pine or Jake Gyllenhaal.

 

[sueb1863]

Oops.