Fox to Air RENT Live in Late 2018; Original Cast Member to Star?

This May, FOX announced that it will present a live musical production of the groundbreaking, Tony Award-, Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Acclaimed film, television and theater producer Marc Platt (GREASE: LIVE, "La La Land," "Wicked"), along with the estate of writer/composer Jonathan Larson, will executive-produce the event. Platt is also serving as executive producer of FOX's live musical presentation of A CHRISTMAS STORY, airing Sunday, December 17th.

At yesterday's TCA press tour held in Los Angeles, FOX Chairman and CEO Dana Walden revealed that the broadcast will air sometime in late 2018. "Honestly, Marc [Platt] has really been focusing on A Christmas Story; it's a big production to mount," said Walden in explaining the 2018 broadcast date for RENT. She added, "He's been working with Julie [Larson], and they've had some preliminary conversations, but haven't gone out to any talent yet. Actually, we'll probably think first about a director."

Asked if the TV adaptation of Larson's iconic musical would feature any of the original Broadway cast members, which included Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp and Taye Diggs, Walden responded, "I'm not 100 percent sure. I know that the conversations Marc had are very much about celebrating the original and the legacy of Jonathan Larson, and whether that involves having one of the original cast members and incorporating that character into the narrative, I'm not sure yet, but I'd be excited about that."

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A re-imagining of Puccini's "La Bohème," and set in New York City's gritty East Village, "Rent" tells the unforgettable story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil. After winning four TONY AWARDS and the Pulitzer Prize, writer/composer Jonathan Larson's tour de force celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, as it continues to offer an inspiring message of hope and friendship. "Rent" originally was produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop.

RENT will be executive-produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Julie Larson, Al Larson and Revolution Studios' Vince Totino, Scott Hemming and Marla Levine.

Source: EW.com