Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?

A new adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof -- to be helmed by Thomas Kail -- was announced on May 28, 2020.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Thomas-Kail-to-Direct-FIDDLER-ON-THE-ROOF-Film-Adaptation-with-Steven-Levenson-Writing-the-Script-20200528

Wondering if this still happening. No recent updates on IMDb.

Josh Gad? Audition? For which part? A bit young to play Tevye. "Right? Of course, right."

Yes, Topol was 35 while filming the movie. Josh Gad is currently 41.

Also, keep in mind that Tevye and Golde are really only in their early 40s. In "Do You Love Me?" they mention being married 25 years, and they would have probably married around 18 (remember Golde is concerned because Tzeitel is almost 20 and not married yet).

AEA AGMA SM said: "Yes, Topol was 35 while filming the movie. Josh Gad is currently 41.

Also, keep in mind that Tevye and Golde are really only in their early 40s. In "Do You Love Me?" they mention being married 25 years, and they would have probably married around 18 (remember Golde is concerned because Tzeitel is almost 20 and not married yet)."

 

Sure, but I think believable storytelling has to be taken into account. 

I’ve mentioned this before, but I always think of an anecdote told to me by a film acting teacher I had: during a shoot they used real toast, but the director said it didn’t look “toasty” enough. So they had to artificially make it look more “toasty” so that it would read to the audience - even though they were actually using real-life toast. 

The lesson: more realistic does not always mean more believable, from an audience/storytelling perspective. 

Josh Gad may be 41, but he doesn’t read as old as Tevye reads. Especially since “41" doesn’t necessarily look the same today as it did in 1905, or even 1971 for that matter (also, I’d argue that Topol looked/read significantly older than he actually was, which is partly why he pulled it off). 

 

Is this still happening?

Well, alas, all mention of it has vanished completely from Thomas Kail's IMDb page (see link below), so Ke3's explanation sounds likely. I am very sad because IMHO *Fiddler on the Roof* really needs an onscreen update. (I have never been a fan of the film. I think Topol was badly miscast -- albeit very good on stage in his later years -- and Jewison violated the spirit of the Robbins version, mostly especially with respect to the Yente character. All of this is discussed in considerable detail in my book *Diamond Fiddler: New Traditions for a New Millennium*.) Alas!  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2371802/?

Updated On: 1/22/24 at 05:28 PM

Norman Jewison, who directed FIDDLER ON THE ROOF for the screen, has passed away at age 97.

i mention it as I think it is one of the best Broadway-to-Film adaptations ever. The movie still works and I think it was perfect in its execution. I still watch it every year or so.

 

I think you are right.  I wouldn't mind knowing that there is a new Fiddler movie on its way.  Nothing will touch the original film production.  To me it is perfection.  But is a good time for this story of prejudice, tradition, family and humanity to try and reach and comfort more people.  Is this still happening?  I think someone had said it is for max?

That is too bad.   But I wouldn't think they would need a legitimate famous film star at all.  And not sure then why such  specific press release with Thomas Kail's name announced would have been released.  

I just reread the release and I am afraid you might be right.  It is after all MGM.

Updated On: 9/24/24 at 07:09 PM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "DAME said: "That is too bad. But I wouldn't think they would need a legitimatefamous film star at all. And not sure then why such specific press release with Thomas Kail's name announced would have been released.

I just reread the release and I am afraid you might be right. It is after all MGM."


A musical film musthave a star to get funding and attract an audience. There isn't a single live action film on this top 25 list that didn't have a star.And in this case if that star is not a Jew, there would be a whole lot of screaming that no studio wants to deal with. FIDDLER's not going to sell on its own.

They put out a press release with Kail's name because he was signed on, pre-Amazon MGM probably paid him a little money, and for a short time the project might have seemed real before it became not-real. And MGM wanted to have a bunch of projects in the hopper while they were trying to get sold.

Probably better off leaving FIDDLER alone."

Sad

With Kail currently filming that crazy Moana live action for Disney, who knows.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "I think there are a lot of other film adaptations in the works that are taking precedence over this"

Taking precedence by whom, the Broadway Court that says when a musical can be adapted for the screen????

As with any film & show, if there hadn’t been an update in more than 12-18 months, just assume it ain’t happening."

I just meant there are other adaptations that have been announced. Actually, I may have gotten ahead of myself there. If it's truly happening there's Kiss of The Spider Woman and then of course Wicked. But that's all I know of so...disregard my comment. But I think you're correct that if there's no update within that time frame, it ain't happening 

Updated On: 9/25/24 at 10:28 AM