Jason Robert Brown Adapting LAST FIVE YEARS & 13 For The Big Screen

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:03pm

I'm happy for Last Five Years, but what did the American people do to deserve a film of 13?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jason_Robert_Brown_to_Bring_13_The_Last_Five_Years_to_Screen_More_20101227

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:12pm

13 I thought should have been a movie musical to begin with and think it will transfer swimmingly to the screen.

As for Last 5 Years, which I adore, I'm just not so sure taking it to the screen is a great idea. It's such a wonderfully intimate show, I just don't see how it will artistically translate the same way to the screen. I would rather see a filmed version of the stage show than trying to really flesh it out as a movie.

TD

[Jon]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:24pm

L5Y - terrible idea for a movie.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:27pm

L5Y will not transfer well to film. JRB would have to do away with the forward/backward concept. For film, they will have to show a subtitle each time they change time which will be annoying. Unless of course they film it as each song being a separate music video.

I don't see a commercial release of the film happening. Perhaps maybe to art houses, but there would have to be names attached to a movie which means getting singers rather than actors.

And the show would have to be opened up. Two character films never work.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:28pm

I hope Rob Marshall directs it. The songs could all be in their heads.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:52pm

If NYC theatre-going audiences have a hard time understanding the chronology of Last 5 Years, I think a larger movie audience would be completely perplexed. I vividly remember walking out of several different productions of L5Y and at all of them hearing comments akin to, "Well, the music was pretty, but I really don't understand what just happened," at all of them.

Then again, there was an assumption that the same confusion would happen during "Inception," but people obviously understood that well enough. Maybe the same will happen here.

[Overkill]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 1:44pm

I've always thought that Last 5 Years would make a great movie. When you hear the idea at first, the initial reaction is that it's a horrible idea and some things on stage just don't work as movies. But what I see with Last Five Years, is something like THE FOUNTAIN starring Hugh Jackman. Something somewhat trippy, going back and forth in time with a beautiful dreamlike vision.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 1:49pm

'13' will transfer quite well to the screen.

[minicko88]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 3:50pm

Can L5Y be changed to Parade? I feel that Parade would transfer much better to screen than L5Y.

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 4:05pm

After watching Inception ,i think anything is possible!! I love the Last 5 Years and i think that it would translate well to film since there have been many movies that have to whole fast forward/backward type of thing(yes it is confusing if not done right but it could be wonderful!just look at the Mulholland Drive movie.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 4:33pm

I agree with minicko, make PARADE the movie. It could/should/would be absolutely gorgeous.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:47am

Just say no to adapting JRB to film.

L5Y is not adaptable. And 13? Ugh. It's been in the works for a while now, from what I've heard. It'll bomb. It'll need an indie label.

But Parade...hmm...

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 2:50am

I can't believe we've gone this long without people throwing out cast suggestions!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 2:57am

I think 13 would work best if Disney channel picked it up for an original movie. I just don't see it working on the big screen though. Last Five Years would be very hard to do, but if it is done right it could be great.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 3:34am

It's work on Disney or Nickelodeon -- as they are not the most discriminating of audiences. It'd be a HUGE hit there. In movie theaters? Doubtful.

[secondarycharacter2]

Posted: 12/30/10 at 12:52pm

I dont really think 13 is Disney appropriate......

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/30/10 at 1:44pm

13 could do really well considering its audience, music, and how it could be marketed.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/30/10 at 2:08pm

As much as I LOVE THE LAST 5 YEARS, it will be an awkward transfer to film, unless they get a director with a real vision.

13 will transfer well to film, but really? Why couldn't we get PARADE?

[minicko88]

Posted: 12/30/10 at 4:21pm

I really think Parade would make a wonderful transition to the big screen. The only problem is the limited audience it would interest. However, I would be first in line to see it, because it is easily JRBs best work!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/31/10 at 12:30pm

Last 5 Years could work on screen; the switching back and forth between two time periods is very filmic in nature.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 9:51am

Just saw a blurb on TV about Blue Valentine, and immediately thought of The Last 5 Years. So now, if The Last 5 Years ever does happen, the ignorant people will think that it's a musical version of Blue Valentine.

[boydowncenter2]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 9:51pm

I think L5Y could translate really well to the big screen. Casting would be key. Has anyone heard anything about that? And YES, Parade!

[THDavis]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 9:39am

I think Last 5 Years should aim for a more independent feel/setting. I'm not sure how well it can really be understood by the general public without them removing songs and rewriting things. Maybe it could go into more independent theatres?

If you were to cast two big names in the screen adaption, you could still draw a rather large crowd and it could still get attention regardless. That being said, those big names better be able to actually do justice to the music.