FOLLIES Movie Adaptation Is In the Works
Follies originally played on Broadway in 1971.
by Nicole Rosky Dec. 8, 2021
Here they come, those beautiful girls! According to the New York Times, a film version of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies is "in active development" with Heyday Films. A timeline for the movie has not yet been announced.
When former members of the "Weismann Follies" reunite on the eve of their theater's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. Reminiscing of their younger selves and the years gone by, the crumbling theater brings back memories for both couples of good times and bad. Follies echoes the songs, exuberance and romance of the vaudeville days between the two World Wars. The score features some of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs, including "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings," "Could I Leave You?," and "Losing My Mind."
Follies - featuring a book by James Goldman and a score by Stephen Sondheim - was originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. It opened on April 4, 1971 at the Winter Garden Theatre where it ran for 522 performances and received seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.
Casting ideas?...
Nicole Kidman as Phyllis...
FYI, this is the Dominic Cooke version that’s been in the works for a couple years. I wish Sondheim was still here to be involved.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
I’m really hoping that they use this as an opportunity to showcase the talent of stage and screen through the generations.
Julie Andrews (yes I know here voice is very limited. But there would have to be a small role. I’m trying to think right now)
Angela Lansbury
Dame Judi Dench
Bernadette Peters
Patti Lupone
Barbra Striesand
Donna Murphy
Meryl Streep
Audra McDonald
Imelda Staunton
Cate Blachett
and then as much as I hate to suggest. But yes. Like Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta Jones
and then younger performers like Laura Osnes, Annaleigh Ashford.
I would love to see Brian Stokes Mitchell and Brian Darcy James
OR the other thought I had was go more Hollywood/rock and roll
cher
bette midler
Stevie nicks
olivia Newton John
Meryl Streep
barba Streisand
dolly parton
reba McEntire
julie andrews
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
I’m really hoping that they use this as an opportunity to showcase the talent of stage and screen through the generations.
Julie Andrews (yes I know here voice is very limited. But there would have to be a small role. I’m trying to think right now)
Angela Lansbury
Dame Judi Dench
Bernadette Peters
Patti Lupone
Barbra Striesand
Donna Murphy
Meryl Streep
Audra McDonald
Imelda Staunton
Cate Blachett
and then as much as I hate to suggest. But yes. Like Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta Jones
and then younger performers like Laura Osnes, Annaleigh Ashford.
I would love to see Brian Stokes Mitchell and Brian Darcy James
OR the other thought I had was go more Hollywood/rock and roll
cher
bette midler
Stevie nicks
olivia Newton John
Meryl Streep
barba Streisand
dolly parton
reba McEntire
julie andrews
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/11
Honestly I think Gwyneth Paltrow as Phyllis.
It's REALLY fitting and she can sing it.
Steve Carrell as Buddy
Laura Dern as Sally
Hugh Jackman as Ben
I think Rita Moreno singing "I'm Still Here" would be chilling and wonderful. As well as Lily Tomlin, Julie Andrews, Jane Fonda
i love the idea of BETTE MIDLER singing "I'm Still Here"
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Phyllis
Richard Gere as Ben
Ann-Margret as Carlotta
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/11
If Ann Margret can sing it- also an amazing choice.
rattleNwoolypenguin said: "If Ann Margret can sing it- also an amazing choice."
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/11
I know the want for this is to cast a bunch of Broadway legends. But I actually think it's more poignant for this medium to cast Hollywood legends (who can of course sing) cause there's a poignancy and sadness to how Hollywood specifically treats women. It's very similar to the plight of the Ziegfeld girls.
Michelle Pfeiffer as Phyllis.
The rest are debatable, but I want, no NEED, to see her in this film
broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "i love the idea of BETTE MIDLER singing "I'm Still Here""
One word. Cher.
...and if it's not too cringey, Donnie & Marie as the Whitmans
Bernadette as Hattie Walker
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
If she can still sing it, Shirley MacLaine as Stella singing "I'm Still Here".
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/11
The8re phan said: "Michelle Pfeiffer as Phyllis.
The rest are debatable, but I want, no NEED, to see her in this film
I think she might be a little too old for Phyllis now. Aren't they all supposed to be in their 50's ish at oldest? I always got the sense is they all have just entered the empty nest portion of parenthood.
Phyllis and Sally are about 48-49 in FOLLIES. It’s mentioned in the book.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/11
Cate Blanchett as Phyllis.
Can everyone please not tell James Corden about this. He’ll only show up on set and demand a role.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
BrodyFosse123 said: "Phyllis and Sally are about 48-49 in FOLLIES. It’s mentioned in the book."
It's not a documentary.
Cate Blanchett as Phyllis. Apparently she's got a pretty strong singing voice, but I've never seen her showcase it onscreen. Would also love to see her play Desiree in Night Music.
Sally is the harder role to cast. Olivia Colman would be my choice of actress and she can kinda sing. Not sure well enough to play Sally. Imelda is probably getting cast.
Can we hire vocal coaches for Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, and Regina King and ask them to pick a role?
While I’d like to see this happen, I think the chances of it materializing are right up there with a film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SUNSET BLVD.
Rumors and trade speculation about a FOLLIES movie have been around since the 1970s.
If the prospects were really viable, the mention of it would’ve happened way earlier than in the closing sentence in this latest New York Times piece.
Perhaps the National Theatre’s capture from London is the closest we’ll get to having FOLLIES preserved. It’s just a shame that the rights were never cleared for a physical release.
I’d love to be proved wrong, though.
Stand-by Joined: 2/17/15
I'd love to see Toni Colette as Sally, she played Petra in the Sydney production of A Little Night Music, and I think she'd nail Sally's breakdown over the course of the film.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/15
Hannah Waddingham - Phyllis
Amy Adams - Sally
Hugh Jackman - Ben
??? - Buddy
Angela Lansbury - Hattie
Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkins - Emily and Thedore
Bette Midler - Solange
Patti Lupone - Carlotta
Chita Rivera - Stella
BrodyFosse123 said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "If Ann Margret can sing it- also an amazing choice."
"
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