Adapting movies into musicals is nothing new, but it seems to be reaching a new high. We've already told you that "Once" is getting the stage treatment, but we all agreed the low key musical was probably a natural fit for the stage. But what about a movie like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?" Can you see Master Li Mu Bai stopping to belt out a number?
Actually, yes, we can too. And the plan for that is actually in the works. According to The New York Observer, the Weinstein Company is digging through their movie collection hoping to adapt several of their productions to Broadway. On the top of the list are "Finding Neverland," "Chocolat," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Cinema Paradiso" with more to follow.
It's an eclectic selection of films, but an oddly appropriate one. "Finding Neverland" is a small and intimate story, and much of it takes place in or around on the London stage. Many of the games J.M. Barrie and his young friends play are imagined as theatrical productions, so we could definitely see a song or two in there. "Chocolat" is practically made for dramatic numbers (possibly to replace all those slow and luscious eating scenes). "Cinema Paradiso" is just the kind of heartbreaking story Broadway loves, and it's imagery is more symbolic and poetic, which would translate fairly well to theatre.
But the one everyone is bound to latch onto for jokes and comments is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Any adaptation of that film would require high-wire aerial work, and we've all heard about the problems that's caused "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." Clearly, the Weinsteins are hoping Spider-Man irons out the technical kinks (or they have some ideas in that department!) that they can employ for their own action-adventure stage musical.
The key is, as always, the music and if the Weinsteins don't find someone incredibly talented to write the songs and scores, not even these beloved stories will translate. But the Weinsteins never do anything halfway or sloppy, so we expect the best. It's an intriguing and exciting development that we're already tempted to line up for.
