Bill Condon to write and direct the movie musical DREAMGIRLS

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 3:30am

Related information was posted in a thread with a title that I suspect would cause many to just overlook it as "another speculative" thread. Anyway, this news made my night. I've never seen DREAMGIRLS live but I know the music is great. And Bill Condon (writer of CHICAGO, writer/director KINSEY, writer/director GODS AND MONSTERS) writing and directing this? Ladies and gentlemen, we have a likely Oscar contender for the 2007 ceremony on our hands.
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A 'Dream' come true for Condon
B'way musical gets a Hollywood makeover

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Bill Condon will direct the movie version of "Dreamgirls," the thinly veiled story of the rise of Diana Ross and the Supremes during the formative years of Motown Records.
The hit Broadway musical about a trio of young black female singers who strive to cross over to the white-dominated pop charts in the early '60s bowed in 1981.

Condon, who won an Oscar for his "Gods And Monsters" screenplay and was Oscar-nominated for his screenplay for "Chicago," has written the first draft of the script.

He has committed to making "Dreamgirls" his directorial follow-up to "Kinsey." Production will begin in late summer or early fall.

Because David Geffen controls screen rights and labored for many years to mount the film, DreamWorks is taking the creative lead on the film. Warner Bros., which nearly made the movie in 1999, will be invited to co-finance. Pic will be produced by Laurence Mark. Geffen, who now oversees the live-action division of DreamWorks, has stepped out of a producing role on the picture.

"David Geffen produced the stage musical and has been guarding the integrity of this material ever since," Mark said. "Nobody has believed in this project more fervently over the years than David, and Bill and I are thrilled that he is entrusting it to us. We plan for him to be significantly involved in every step of this movie."

Condon said he bought a $5 ticket for the musical's opening night and never forgot it.

"There are few musicals that should be turned into movies, and this is one of them, because there is such a great central idea," Condon said. "It's about the price you pay for crossover success in the music business.

"I feel like 'Chicago' was my university education on how to write the screenplay for a musical, and I'm excited at the chance to take it to the next level."

The film will retain Tom Eyen's book and lyrics and Henry Krieger's music.

Director-choreographer Michael Bennett, whose work was considered groundbreaking at the time, died in 1987.

Mark and Condon said they expect to cast a star in the role of Curtis Taylor Jr., the Svengali who discovers singing group the Dreams and guides them to fame. They'll likely tap the rich crop of young singers for at least one member of the Dreams trio, but said they are open to creating a star, as the original musical did with Jennifer Holliday, who won a Tony for her show-stopping turn as Effie Melody White.
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WHOOOOOP! (that's me shrieking) I can just see what's coming next. Ragtime: the Musical will be rewritten for the screen. It's inevitable.
Updated On: 1/11/05 at 03:30 AM

[sipos]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 3:49am

Alright, I HAVE to go to bed. But, Fantastic.

I really love this wave of movie musicals. By this time next year, they should be back in full force and just like the they once were.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:20am

Oh this is VERY lovely news indeed!!

[paradox_error]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 5:05am

THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!!!

And Dreamgirls will undoubtedly be extremely popular!!!

I love Bill Condon's work. This should be such a wonderful movie musical.

I'm THRILLED!!! Updated On: 1/11/05 at 05:05 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 7:41am

Yayyayayayayay!

*hops around in glee*

Ooh, wait until Margo hears about this.

*hops around some more*

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 8:27am

I think this one's the most likely of the crop to succeed. It has the Chicago factor with a screenplay by Bill Condon AND the Ray factor as a musical about African-American performers rising to the top.

[timote316]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:15am

If Chicago was his 'education', I can't wait to see what Condon will come up with next!

[jim coleman]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:23am

Just saw KINSEY and Bill Condon's screenplay and direction are superb. He is so talented! Is there anything he can't do?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:27am

See Plum, we do agree on something. YAY!!!!

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:30am

*hugs spider*

I need something positive right now.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:33am

Amazing news and hoping it comes to complete fruition

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:35am

Well, how about this....without us the people of the message board will have to live out their lives without seeing the beauty which is Catherine and Hugh.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:39am

Question, if the movie happens, is there still a chance it would come back to Broadway?

I love love to see it on the big screen but I think I would rather see it live and then on the big screen.

I also think that this movie could really succeed.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:40am

Why not both? Talk about synergy.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:44am

do you think they would do both, though?

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:47am

Why not? First of all, I'm pretty sure the stage rights aren't tied to the film rights, so it's not like the movie people could stop the stage people or vice versa. I could be wrong about that, though. But even if I am wrong about that, why wouldn't they want both? If they market it correctly, they could both benefit each other, especially if cast members cross over between the two.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 10:52am

Ok, that makes sense. I like your outlook, Plum. very positive :)

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 11:00am

I hope the producers on both sides have the same outlook instead of thinking that there's a zero-sum game going on between them.

Posted: 1/11/05 at 11:15am

I'm curious to get Margo's take on all of this. He has talked before about how tightly the rights to this piece are guarded (leading to things like Ms. Holiday's performance at the Tonys being removed from the Broadway Treasures release.) Perhaps he has some awareness that can give us a hint of what the reality is.

[crp2000]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:00pm

Beaverhausen - LOVE your icon!! Nancy is one of my all time favorites!!!!!

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:12pm

Speaking of icons, crp, I've actually been wondering if Deborah Cox would end up associated with this Dreamgirls project - by all acounts, she acquitted herself nicely doing AIDA.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:20pm

Who do you think Deborah could play? Deena?

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:25pm

I can see Halle in the role, but can she sing? She lip-synched in the Dorothy Dandridge movie, didn't she? Physically, though, she's perfect.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:38pm

Again, old news.

See Movie Musical Renassiance Thread.

SWEENEY TODD, BAT BOY, RENT, PRODUCERS, HAIRSPRAY all also in development.

Other shows are only 'ideas' at this point.

[perfusion]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 12:46pm

I can see Jamie Foxx as Curtis Taylor Jr.Tyrees as James Thunder Early & maybe Usher as Clairidge Conrad White(C.C.).
For The Dreams,I don't know,That's kind of hard,Just keep Beyonce & Ashante away from it...PLEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ!!!!!!