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With Disney's adaptation of INTO THE WOODS earning the largest opening weekend box office figures for any movie musical adapted from a Broadway show in history, legendary stage, TV, and film producer Craig Zadan took to Twitter to confirm that the next big screen project for him and partner Neil Meron will be the adaptation of Stephen Schwartz's classic musical Pippin.
As BroadwayWorld reported last year, the pair will be teaming with The Weinstein Company to bring the story of Charlemagne's son to the silver screen. With rumored live productions of A FEW GOOD MEN and THE MUSIC MAN on NBC's 2015 schedule, will Meron and Zadan's big screen responsibilities interfere with their involvement? Who's going to start the inevitable campaigning for Christian Borle to play Pippin now?
In addition to producing the film versions of CHICAGO and HAIRSPRAY, Meron and Zadan have been bringing beloved musicals to TV for over 20 years, starting with Bette Midler's GYPSY in 1993. They have also produced CINDERELLA (starring Brandy and Whitney Houston), ANNIE (with Victor Garber and Audra McDonald), and the recent SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! and PETER PAN LIVE! They also were Executive Producers o+f NBC's SMASH.
The duo is also currently overseeing the Academy Awards for the third straight year, with recent Tony-winner Neil Patrick Harris as the host.
PIPPIN, which will close on Broadway at the end of the week, earned four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Diane Paulus), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Patina Miller as The Leading Player) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Andrea Martin as Berthe). The original production opened on Broadway in 1972 starring John Rubenstein as Pippin, Ben Vereen as The Leading Player, and the late Jill Clayburgh as Catherine.
Who else would you like to see in the big screen adaptation of Pippin? Daniel Radcliffe as Pippin? Meryl Streep as Berthe? Usher as The Leading Player? Let us know in the comments below.
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