Hugh Jackman to play PT Barnum in THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH
It looks like Hugh Jackman will be able to flex his pipes on the big-screen, instead of just on stage or while hosting the Oscars. Variety reports that the Tony Award winning Jackman is attached to play American showman P.T. Barnum in Fox Studios' The Greatest Showman on Earth.
The film is an original contemporary musical scripted by Sex And The City scribe Jenny Bicks. Showman is being produced by Laurence Mark (Dreamgirls), Jackman and his Seed partner John Palermo.
Jackman will play the showman with a penchant for hoaxing a gullible public as he creates the three-ring circus that made him famous. The musical also focuses on his infatuation with singer Jenny Lind -- the so-called Swedish Nightingale.
The role of Lind is being scripted for Anne Hathaway, who teamed with Jackman in his opening Oscars number. Jackman also wants Hathaway as his female lead in the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, Carousel, which Jackman has in the works with Palermo.
The studio is also in talks with British singer-songwriter Mika to write music and lyrics for the film's contemporary musical score.
This project sounds strange, but will undoubtedly reel in the ladies. I can already see Jackman on Oprah performing the musical numbers from the film. (Shudder) It's hard to picture Jackman as the balding overweight Barnum. If they were going for a more accurate casting, they probably would have gone with John C. Reilly. He can sing!
So what do you think of Wolverine, I mean Hugh as PT Barnum? Share your thoughts below.