The movie musical renaissance continues with the new announcement that a Grease prequel is in the works.
Paramount has announced that they’re working on a prequel film to the classic movie musical Grease from 1978. The project is currently titled Summer Loving and will focus on how main characters Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) first met. While this meeting is explained through the hit number “Summer Nights” in the original film, Paramount hopes to explore that fateful summer with more detail.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory writer John August is writing up the prequel’s script. In addition, Temple Hill of Love, Simon, the Maze Runner series, and First Man is producing along with Picturestart, the company run by Lionsgate executive producer Erik Feig.
This seems to be the latest news in what’s becoming a growing return of movie musicals.
This February, it was announced that a Wicked movie is in the works and will arrive in theaters in December of 2021.
In addition, a film version of Cats is planned for this year’s December with a star-studded cast including Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, and James Corden, Plus, Steven Spielberg is working on a West Side Story remake with Ansel Elgort as Tony.
We also can’t forget recent successes like Emily Blunt’s Mary Poppins and Hugh Jackman’s The Greatest Showman. And perhaps all of this movie musical news is due to the success of tv musical performances like Rent (Kind Of) Live, The Wiz Live, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, Grease Live, and more.
It seems there’s money in musicals again, and Hollywood is looking to cash in.
h/t: Hollywood Reporter
