Filmmakers Who You Think Should Tackle Movie Musicals

Who do you think should take on a film adaptation of a musical and what should they do regardless of musical experience?

I personally would love Christopher Nolan to tackle Next to Normal as I feel it fits his twisty style of movies, and while I love Stephen Spielberg, he needs to steer clear of West Side Story as it already has a perfect adaptation. Instead, I think he'd do a lavishly amazing Follies as long as it followed the original book, and a fun and complex Company if he kept it a period piece or put a twist on it (ex. Bobbie).



Bonus: dreamcast!

Updated On: 8/31/17 at 09:10 PM

A Tim Burton Matilda might be too on the nose.

julie Taymor directing a great comet adaption may be interesting.

Updated On: 8/31/17 at 09:23 PM

Follies is the movie musical I most want to see made but it's also the show I least want to see desecrated in an attempt to pull in audiences that were never going to show up to a cinema for it in the first place. Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, or Alejandro González Iñárritu would be interesting choices. Aronofsky in particular intrigues me. Think of the visuals he captured in Black Swan but also his unflinching yet reverential take on midlife crises in The Wrestler.

I know that between The Act and New York, New York Scorsese is probably blacklisted from musicals for most people but I wouldn't mind seeing him take another crack. I'd love to see him helm City of Angels.

I'd like to see Matthew Weiner develop a film of Company- give him and the Mad Men team free rein with the book, and don't let him cut much music.

I think Alfonso Cuaron could do something great with the right material.

Ang Lee would also be a great choice as would Wong War Kai.

I want someone whose has a knack for pacing and natural rhythm. Someone with a real artistic eye and style but with real maturity and depth aka not someone who is trying too hard (trying to be too hip or clever) and forgets to stay grounded and ignores real characterization and development.

Side note: I know a Tim Burton Matilda would be appealing to a lot of people, but I would absolutely hate it.

Updated On: 8/31/17 at 11:17 PM

Alfonso Cuaron

Edgar Wright

Ava DuVernay

After seeing Baby Driver, I'd love to see Edgar Wright take on a movie musical. The way he was able to incorporate music in Baby Driver alone was brilliant. I know it's a different way of using music, but I bet he could do a great job with it.

Ryan Coogler

Rian Johnson

Barry Jenkins

The Ang Lee Little Night Music idea is great. Would love to see him reteam with Emma Thompson writing.

Updated On: 9/1/17 at 10:07 AM

hork said: "Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Lars von Trier"

Got to be the worst idea since Lost Horizon.