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Michael Gracey to Make Hugh Jackman 'Greatest Showman on Earth'

by Ethan Anderton
August 17, 2011
Source: Variety

Just over two years ago we learned the multi-talented Hugh Jackman would finally be bringing his musical talents from the Broadway stage to the big screen by playing P.T. Barnum in an original musical set up at 20th Century Fox called The Greatest Showman on Earth. Jackman is also producing the film which is using a script from "Sex and the City" series writer Jenny Bicks, but the project hasn't had a director attached since then. Now Variety reports Michael Gracey, the VFX wizard and commercial director who just signed on to direct The Order of the Seven for Disney, will direct this promising musical.

The story follows Barnum, a showman with a penchant for hoaxing a gullible public who becomes famous for creating the three-ring circus. In addition, special attention will be paid to his infatuation with singer Jenny Lind -- the so-called Swedish Nightingale. However, the project will likely remain in development for awhile since Jackman is already set to shoot The Wolverine with James Mangold directing, and an adaptation of Les Miserables from Tom Hooper as well. Either way, I'm excited that Jackman is finally bringing his musical talents to the big screen in a huge way. The absence of his voice in big screen musicals is an absolutely travesty and I can't wait to see him belt out some tunes soon.

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