La La Land was getting Oscar buzz long before it hit theaters. It maintained rave reviews across the festival circuit after its world premiere in August, and applause only grew louder as it sailed through its limited early December release. The film has been a smash with broader audiences, too: As of yet, it’s grossed nearly $52 million in the U.S. alone.
Now, it’s barreling into awards season, having already collected hardware from the Critics’ Choice Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, and Toronto International Film Festival, among a slew of others. Last Sunday, it sweeped the 74th annual Golden Globes with a record-breaking seven awards, and two days later nabbed 11 nominations at BAFTA. As La La Land expands its reach, it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, and it could very well be one of Lionsgate’s biggest non-franchise blockbusters in the studio’s history.
Now, THR reports that Lionsgate may be looking to capitalize on La La Land’s success with a touring stage production. "If we want to do a stage show, we can do a stage show," Lionsgate co-president Erik Feig told the studio's Investors Day presentation on Tuesday. Feig didn’t expand on any plans, though they may be waiting to see how the movie does following its wide release. Its peak theatrical roll-out will come January 22nd, just in time for the Oscar nominations announcement.
La La Land’s response thus far seems to suggest there would be high demand for a stage rendition, and it would be far from the first title to make the leap from Cineplex to Broadway. Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Roger Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors, and Vincente Minnelli’s An American In Paris are among those that have flourished in theater.
Still, much of La La Land’s drive comes from its A-list team. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as two struggling artists who fall in love as they strive for fame in Los Angeles. Damien Chazelle, who helmed the Academy Award-winning Whiplash, directed, and John Legend, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemarie Dewitt also appear.
Though the project certainly has a compelling story — and a dynamic range of music to boot — it would have to land a stellar cast to match up to the movie’s impressive groundwork. But La La Land has a long way to go before a musical gets near an official sign-off. For now, all eyes are on where it will place at the upcoming Oscars.
La La Land is currently in theaters.
Source: THR
