The Greatest Showman musical was very well received and talks about a sequel have been floating around for a while; here’s everything known about it, as well as the stage show version. Hugh Jackman is best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, but he has also made himself known in the world of musicals, both on stage and the big screen. Jackman voiced Memphis in the animated musical Happy Feet, but his first proper musical role was in Tom Hooper’s film version of Les Misérables.
Jackman’s next musical was The Greatest Showman, released in 2017 and inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum, creator of Barnum’s American Museum. Although the writers took a lot of creative liberties when bringing Barnum’s life to the big screen, the film was a box office success, and it was praised for its performances, music, and overall production. The Greatest Showman also starred Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson.
Given its financial success, many expected a sequel to be announced soon after the first film’s release, but there have been some obstacles along the way. However, those who want to revisit Barnum’s story will be able to do so thanks to the stage show version. Here’s everything you need to know about The Greatest Showman 2.
The Greatest Showman 2 Status - Is It Happening?
The Greatest Showman 2 hasn’t been confirmed, but it may still have a hat in the ring (pun intended) in greenlighting discussions. In February 2019, director Michael Gracey told The Sun that discussions around a sequel had already started and they were working on it, with Hugh Jackman later confirming on the radio show Steve Wright’s Big Guest that a sequel was in early development, but it wasn’t a sure thing just yet. However, there continues to be no news that The Greatest Showman 2 is actually being developed, and considering how long it took to make the first movie, the chances of a sequel do seem rather slim.
Both Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams have expressed interest in making The Greatest Showman 2, although the former has pointed out that it needs to happen before he's "too old." While this is a lighthearted quip from Jackman, it does illustrate the very real issue The Greatest Showman 2 will face if it takes too long to enter production: The Greatest Showman's main cast may have moved on with their careers too much or even lost interest in some cases. For Jackman and Williams, the sequel dream is still very much alive, but as of now, there is still no indication that The Greatest Showman 2 is actually happening.
The Greatest Showman 2 Release Date
If The Greatest Showman 2 is confirmed, it can be tricky to predict a release date. It’s unclear when the film industry will be able to fully go back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, and as Jackman has mentioned, it took eight years to just get the first one made, as there was a lot of creative and technical stuff to figure out. Developing a sequel that can live up to the production value of the first one will therefore probably take a while. But if it avoids development hell, The Greatest Showman 2 could arrive in 2023.
The Greatest Showman 2 Story Details
Another tricky aspect to predict for The Greatest Showman is the material for the plot. The first film covered the most important part of Barnum’s life and wrapped it up quite nicely, so unless the sequel wants to explore other sides of Barnum’s story, it could shift focus to Zac Efron’s character, Phillip. At the end of the film, Phillip was given full control of the circus so Barnum could spend more time with his family, making it easy for a sequel to follow Phillip’s life now as the lead of the show, as well as his relationship with Zendaya’s Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist.
The Greatest Showman Stage Show Details
While a sequel awaits confirmation, those who would like to go back to Barnum’s musical world will be able to do it thanks to the Greatest Showman stage show. As expected, the stage show will tell the same story as the film with the original songs that were stuck in the heads of viewers for days. Details on The Greatest Showman stage show are scarce, as there’s no information on the cast nor much of the creative team, except for Benj Pasek and Justin Paul being in charge of the score. The show was rumored to open in London’s West End sometime in 2022, but it could end up opening in 2023 instead.