The Blizzard and I: The coming storm of post-Wicked movie musicals
A "frozen dozen" films that will make Hollywood sing in 2025, 2026, and 2027
Shalom, Broadway lovers!
In today’s MARQUEE: The Broadway Maven’s Weekly Blast: A) a preview of Hollywood’s bumper crop of post-Wicked movie musicals; B) a Broadway Maven YouTube GEM about Broadway and Jewish values; C) a Broadway Blast about Chicago; D) a Piano Talk about “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl; E) a photo from the recent Broadway opening night attended by two Broadway Maven Members who won a Members-only drawing; and F) a Last Blast about Pacific Overtures and Sunday in the Park With George.
ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re having a Rush Week! The Broadway Maven is offering five FREE classes the first full week of January, which will give non-Members a chance to see up close what the Broadway Maven is and what happens in our classes. The schedule is:
• Cole Porter’s Broadway (FREE, Sunday, January 5 at Noon and 7 pm)
• Hair (FREE, Monday, January 6 at Noon and 7 pm)
• Waitress (FREE, Tuesday, January 7 at Noon and 7 pm)
• Fosse’s Cabaret (FREE, Wednesday, January 8 at Noon and 7 pm)
• West Side Story (FREE, Thursday, January 9 at Noon and 7 pm)
NOTE: In recognition of winter holidays, there will be no MARQUEE next week.
REPORT: Broadway scholars have long observed that Hollywood musicals tend to rise on the wings of a hit. From Grease to Chicago, blockbuster successes have always inspired a chorus of imitators. With Wicked: Part One smashing records, a fresh slate of contenders is already stepping into the spotlight. In alphabetical order, here’s a dozen vying to be the next Wicked: Part One:
Big River: The 1985 Tony Award-winning musical, based on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is being adapted into a film by playwright Douglas Lyons (Chicken & Biscuits). The original Broadway production, featuring a country and gospel-infused score by Roger Miller, won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Lyons' adaptation aims to present the narrative from both Huck and Jim's perspectives, offering a more nuanced exploration of their experiences.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: A reimagined adaptation of the beloved 1968 musical is in development at Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions. Based on Ian Fleming’s novel and featuring iconic songs by the Sherman Brothers, the film will update the magical adventures of Caractacus Potts and his flying car for a contemporary audience. Casting and release details are yet to be announced.
Frozen III: Expect the latest adventures of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and friends Thanksgiving weekend 2027. Since that's nearly three years away, little is known about the music or content of this film, except that the major roles will be played by the same actors as the previous films, and Disney is preparing Frozen IV at the same time as the threequel. No word on the music yet.
Guys and Dolls: An updated film adaptation of the classic Broadway musical is in development, with Rob Marshall (Chicago, Mary Poppins Returns) set to direct. Details on casting and release dates have yet to be announced.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Amazon Studios is developing a new film adaptation of the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, with Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Wicked) set to direct. Chu aims to bring a fresh cinematic vision to the classic biblical tale of Joseph and his multicolored coat. The screenplay is being crafted by Daniel Goldfarb. Specific details regarding casting and release dates have not been announced.
Kiss of the Spider Woman: The Tony-winning musical by Kander and Ebb comes to the screen under Bill Condon's direction (Dreamgirls). Starring Jennifer Lopez as Aurora, this adaptation, premiering at Sundance 2025, brings to life the story of two Argentine prisoners—one a revolutionary, the other a gay man—bonding over survival, escapism, and the dangerous allure of the Spider Woman. With haunting music and Lopez’s star power, the film promises to honor the Broadway classic while reaching a new generation.
Merrily We Roll Along: Directed by Richard Linklater, this ambitious film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 1981 musical is being filmed over 20 years to authentically depict the characters' aging. The narrative follows Franklin Shepard, a Broadway composer who abandons his friends and career to become a Hollywood producer, told in reverse chronological order. The cast includes Paul Mescal as Franklin Shepard, Ben Platt as Charley Kringas, and Beanie Feldstein as Mary Flynn. Production began in 2019, with filming planned at intervals to mirror the story's 20-year span. As of November 2024, two sequences have been completed.
Moana: Disney's 2026 live-action adaptation of Moana could almost be called a Polynesian Hamilton because of the involvement of that blockbuster's alumni, including director Thomas Kail and the author of the movie’s original songs, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Fans can anticipate a faithful yet innovative retelling of Moana's story, celebrating the rich traditions and communities of Pacific Islanders
Shucked: The hit Broadway musical Shucked is being adapted into a feature film by Mandalay Pictures. With a screenplay by the musical’s Tony-winning writer, Robert Horn, the film will bring the comedic tale of a small-town community grappling with a corn crisis to the big screen. Release dates and casting have yet to be announced.
Snow White: Disney's upcoming live-action (plus CGI dwarves) adaptation of the House of Mouse's original full-length animated feature has received its share of online hate for its casting and performances. But show tune lovers have a lot to look forward to, including classics like "Heigh-Ho" and "Whistle While You Work," but also new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen) including a new "I Want Song" for the protagonist called "Waiting on a Wish."
Tangled: Disney is developing a live-action adaptation of its 2010 animated film Tangled, with Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) in negotiations to direct. The original film, featuring songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, reimagines the classic Rapunzel fairy tale. Casting and release dates for the live-action version have yet to be announced
Wicked: For Good: Of course, the second part of Elphaba's tale will be a blockbuster. Expect the cinematic version of Act Two in theaters on November 21, 2025.
BROADWAY MAVEN YouTube GEM: Created for the Jewish studies conference Limmud UK 2024, this video explores the Jewish values (named in Hebrew but explained) epitomized by important Broadway songs. From hachnasat orchim (hospitality) in Annie to shmirat halashon (careful speech) in The Music Man, Broadway's timeless wisdom connects beautifully to Jewish traditions.
BROADWAY BLAST: The murderesses in "Cell Block Tango" set the tone for Chicago by showing that in the musical, guilt and innocence are not about what actually happened, but about, well, the "razzle dazzle" you can muster when you try to sell your story. Each woman turns her crime into an attention-grabbing performance, captivating the audience with humor, pathos, or irony, and reinforcing the show’s focus on image over truth. The Hunyak’s fate highlights this cruel reality—since she only speaks a few words of English (“not guilty”), she can’t present her story like the others, and it tragically costs her everything. In Chicago (and, by extension, Chicago), survival isn’t about innocence; it’s about commanding the spotlight.
PIANO TALK: Here, Broadway Maven music educator Mateo Chavez Lewis shows how syncopated melodies, chromatic scales, contrasting sections, and musical "shots" shaped the song "Don't Rain on My Parade" (Funny Girl), which helped launch Barbra Streisand's career. Like buttah!
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Broadway Maven is now offering one month’s FREE Membership, between now and December 31. Get invited to ALL Broadway Maven classes and other expert-led Broadway experiences (5-15 a month) for just $18 a month, with the first month’s fee waived for new members. Membership includes a password to the Clips Archive and periodic giveaways to Broadway and off-Broadway shows, including at least one opening night performance and party. Upcoming Members-only classes include Guys and Dolls; A Little Night Music; The Book of Mormon; and a watch party for Pacific Overtures. Join this vibrant learning community at the button below. It’s your home for Broadway appreciation!
Note: A full calendar of upcoming classes is always available at TheBroadwayMaven.com.
• Sunday, December 29 Noon ET Pacific Overtures watch party (Members only)
• Sunday, January 5 Noon and 7 pm ET Cole Porter’s Broadway (FREE, register HERE)
• Monday, January 6 Noon and 7 pm ET Hair (FREE, register HERE)
• Tuesday, January 7 Noon and 7 pm ET Waitress (FREE, register HERE)
• Wednesday, January 8 Noon and 7 pm ET Fosse’s Cabaret (FREE, register HERE)
• Thursday, January 9 Noon and 7 pm ET West Side Story (FREE, register HERE)
• Monday, January 13 Noon ET Guys and Dolls (Members only)
• Tuesday, January 14 Noon and 7 pm ET A Little Night Music (Members only)
• Sunday, January 19 Noon ET Maven Scholar presentations (Members only)
• Tuesday, January 21 Noon and 7 pm ET The Book of Mormon (Members only)
NOTE: As of December 31, the ALL-ACCESS Program is being phased out, so current Passholders will need to register for the FREE classes during Rush Week, or to become Members after January 1.
LAST BLAST: In Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures, "Someone in a Tree" argues that history is not defined by sweeping events but by tiny, overlooked moments, declaring, "It’s the pebble, not the stream." This theme deepens with metaphors like "Not the building but the beam" and "Not the garden but the stone," which highlight how unseen, foundational elements shape what is perceived as monumental. Similarly, in Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, "Beautiful" captures the artistic process, as George transforms fleeting, scattered impressions—mere "dots"—into a harmonious and lasting whole. Both songs celebrate the potential of perception and assembly: the witness in the tree notices the pebble that ripples into history, just as George paints with metaphorical Japanese pebbles, building the vast stream of the masterpiece on his canvas, proving that meaning always begins with the smallest detail.
The Broadway Maven is a vibrant educational community that helps its members think more deeply about musical theater. Every month, members may attend 5-15 expert-led classes and innovative Broadway experiences, all for just $18. We also foster enthusiasm for Broadway through the FREE weekly substack newsletter MARQUEE and host an expansive YouTube channel. It's your home for Broadway appreciation. Contact The Broadway Maven at DavidBenkof@gmail.com.
Thanks for the intel! I love all of your writing, but this was particularly fascinating! Thanks, David, for always educating and informing!