Hugh Jackman's P.T. Barnum Kicks Off The Party in "Greatest Showman" Images
Friday, May 19, 2017 at 11:00AM by Daniel Crooke
Between stints of slicing and dicing the big screen – let alone the ADR booth – as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman’s carved out a comfortable career for himself over the years as a jack-of-all-trades song-and-dance man. In fact, his greatest feats of awards success have all revolved around his fleet feet and tenacious tenor: a Tony Award for The Boy From Oz, his sole Oscar nomination for Les Miserables, and, of course, his instantly iconic turn hosting the 2008 Academy Awards. In light of Entertainment Weekly’s recently released photo spread from his upcoming P.T. Barnum (original!) musical The Greatest Showman, the question begs itself. Will Jackman land once more with Oscar for his latest tripping of the light fantastic?
More images and info after the jump...
Stuck in development for nearly a decade, The Greatest Showman finally graces theaters later this year on Christmas Day with an all-star cast including Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson. Following the infamous circus maestro’s rags-to-riches story from childhood to his first career successes, and set to a soundtrack of pop-influenced songs by recently Academy-ordained (and Tony nominated) La La Land duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, it sounds like we’re in for some prototypical biopic structure but with a fresh, vibrant hook.
By the looks of the Lite-Brite costumes, cotton candy hairstyles, and bold visual flair in these photos, first-time director Michael Gracey aims to exhume the salacious, otherworldly realm of the circus’s mid-19th entury roots without sparing an ounce of the razzle-dazzle. While Jackman’s teal vest and striped trousers look a bit too Fantastic Beasts for me, what do you make of these first four images from The Greatest Showman’s three-ring circus?
Reader Comments (14)
Considering the announced serial killer film and that big musical part, I came to the terrifying conclusion that Hollywood is trying to take Zac Efron seriously as an actor. But he has no acting talent to stretch.
Plus, does this look campy only to me?
AAA: On the former: Yeah, but they generally realize their mistakes quickly. This won't last that long. On the latter: It's a movie about the Circus. Of course it's going to be bright, heightened and theatrical. You were expecting something with the palette of Arrival or Man of Steel?
He should be winning for Logan but I'll settle for this. If DDL takes his win again...
No, Volvagia. What I meant is that it looks less La La Land and more Ru Pal's Drag Race. Maybe they are going for camp but, who knows ? We'll see.
i think michael gracey might have seen moulin rouge a few too many times...
When I go to a musical called The Greatest Showman I expect both the razzle and the dazzle and this looks like it will deliver.
Efron cut his teeth on those High School musicals and while he might not be the thespian of the world I'd rather see someone who can carry a tune and dance as he can than some schmo who they cast strictly for name value and can do neither. Plus if it keeps him from unleashing another one of those ghastly so called "comedies" on the world I'm all for it.
I don't see Jackman and Williams having much chemistry between them.
They had me at Michelle Williams ... Everyone who gives her another chance to shine deserves a chance for me. I'm still not over her in Manchester and Certain Women ... there's no small part with her.
i'm not sure he will ever be "Academy Award Winning" Hugh Jackman, because he might not be THAT good at it, but he is so well liked, I would not be surprised if this, and other parts, get him back in, well, the Academy Award Circus Ring.
Yes for casting actors that can sing (Hackman and Enron anyways).
I adore Michelle so fingers crossed it's a good role AND she sounds good.
What on earth about this is "camp"? Or is just anything with stylised costuming considerer camp these days?
It looks promising on the visuals
I saw Michelle Williams in Cabaret on Broadway. She received mixed reviews, but I actually thought she was pretty damn good when I saw her. She can carry a tune, so I think she'll sound fine here.
Looking forward to this movie! Excellent cast, strong creative team, and backed by a major studio (FOX) from production to distribution. Hugh and Michelle had excellent chemistry in the lowkey Deception movie with Ewan McGregor...but it will be exciting to see them in a musical. Michelle even looks very different in this portrayal. Hugh debuted one of the songs in his Australia concert series called THIS IS ME ( a song about the so-called circus freaks, led in the movie by the Bearded Lady and portayed by Broadway's Keala Settle) and it is certainly a very good glimpse into the music written for this movie by Pasek and Paul.
This is going to be an interesting year for Hugh Jackman -- which one will AMPAS favor : his well-received farewell portrayal in LOGAN or his triple-threat talent showcase in SHOWMAN? Great year for Jackman fans!