Musicals we’d love to see as films

There has been no shortage of musical movies in previous years.

And we couldn’t be more grateful to be able to experience the joy of musical theatre from the comfort of our sofas and share the flicks through generations!

After the record-breaking, triumphant release of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, director Jon M Chu, among other musical theatre devotees, is leading the charge and ripping up the rulebook for stage-to-screen adaptations.

It got us thinking about other classic, beloved musicals that have only been performed on stages. And with many shows reported to be in development, we’re holding out hope for even more to follow suit.

While our editor-in-chief, Alex Wood, questions whether another stage show could ever replicate Wicked‘s success, we wonder whether any of these could…

Aida

Elton John and Tim Rice’s lesser-known musical (well, isn’t everything when compared to The Lion King?) is based on an opera, so it lends itself perfectly to the dramatic medium of film. Plus, it is a Disney musical, after all. Despite never playing professionally on these shores, the Broadway cast featured a wealth of big voices, including Heather Headley, Deborah Cox, Toni Braxton and Michelle Williams in the title role and Idina Menzel as Amneris, Princess of Egypt. We don’t imagine the casting team to be short of stars looking to bring this one to the screen. Failing that, we’d be happy with a UK premiere.

Blood Brothers

It’s impossible to imagine the UK theatre scene without Blood Brothers. Willy Russell’s classic tale about twins Mickey and Eddie was first seen in 1983 and is a certified fan favourite, selling out every time it embarks on a tour. Several cast members have been with the production for a long time, and wouldn’t it be fantastic to see the piece adapted into a film immortalising their performances?

City of Angels

City of Angels is just crying out to be adapted into a film! For those unfamiliar, the Cy Coleman-David Zippel-Larry Gelbart musical follows a screenwriter adapting his noir novel into a movie. We’d love to see the black and white scenes jump from stage to screen and how the cast portrays their double roles. Again, we’re still keeping everything crossed for the ill-fated West End production to return.

Company

Marianne Elliot’s gender-swapped Company took Stephen Sondheim’s much-loved musical to new heights, giving it a modern overhaul. Jonathan Bailey – who has more than proven his pull in big-budget film adaptations – and Patti LuPone picked up awards for their roles as Jamie and Joanne, respectively, and we wouldn’t mind seeing them reprising the roles on screen.

Hamilton

We truly are “Satisfied” with the filmed Broadway recording of the original cast, starring Mr Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. However, a live-action version could be a truly cinematic event (imagine the duels!), combining historical narrative with contemporary debate. Plus, those numbers are etched into modern society.

Pacific Overtures

Another Sondheim musical makes the list (and we’ve restrained ourselves from adding even more…), but it would be fascinating to see how this show could be presented today, ideally with a caring and authentic cast and creative team behind it. The numbers are lesser-known in the musical theatre canon; in fact, a new iteration of the piece was staged for the first time in the UK only a couple of years ago, but they are truly underappreciated.

Parade

Jason Robert Brown’s musical, which follows the true story of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jewish man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder, had a monumental revival in 2023 with Ben Platt (who is, and will be for the next few years, bringing Merrily We Roll Along to film) and Micaela Diamond leading as the Franks. A heartbreaking tale outlining racism and bigotry, a film adaptation would bring more attention to the rarely staged musical.

Pippin

The Wicked fever that has swept the world over the last few years has cemented the impact that Stephen Schwartz’s musicals can have on screen! Pay homage to the original Bob Fosse choreography on screen, and there would rightly be “Magic to Do”!

Ragtime

It’s hard to imagine why Ragtime, a universally adored classic musical, hasn’t been adapted into a movie yet. Perhaps the hit Broadway revival, starring Joshua Henry, Brandon Uranowitz and Caissie Levy, will set the wheels in motion.

Starlight Express

Speaking of wheels in motion, while Cats wasn’t quite the hit we had all hoped for, surely Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s tale of racing trains will get on the right track? An animated approach may lend nicely to this one, and also minimise the health and safety risk for the cast on set.

Sunday in the Park with George

Sorry, sorry. It’s another Sondheim. But can you blame us? We can just imagine the dreamlike strokes of Georges Seurat’s artwork, and the hopefulness of James Lapine and Sondheim’s intentions with the piece. BTW producers, we haven’t forgotten what you promised us!