New Versions, Adaptations, Remakes and Feelings

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I know I harp on new versions but bear with me for this post. I have too many thoughts and feelings. Sorry this got a little too long, scroll to end of the post for TLDR

Esmeralda and Quasimodo looking over teh edge of Notre dame Disney Hunchabck of Notre Dame
Esmeralda and Quasimodo looking over the edge of Notre Dame

I used to think that for content any new version of Hunchback regardless of its quality was a good thing. A new notable movie or TV show adaptation with a wide release would mean more current content and hopefully views, that’s always the hope.

Since this blog started WAY back in very late 2010 there hadn’t been a new movie/TV adaptation since 1999 which isn’t a well known France version and I can’t honestly speak to its lasting impact. Prior to that it would be 1997 TV adaptation with Mandy Patinkin and Salma Hayek. And again it doesn’t have the same cultural significance as the version that came out the year before which is the Disney version. The Disney movie is the de facto movie version along with the 1923 Lon Chaney film. The 1939 and 1956 are both highly regarded but really only for movie buffs or Hunchback completionists.

In the intervening years between the Disney version and now, multiple movie and tv versions have been announced and then quietly canceled.

However the one “version” that did get announced and released since 1996, the one that broke the 27 year gap between versions, or 24 year if you want count the 1999 version, was Quasi. A version that is only nominally a version (you can read my review of it here). At at best it’s pseudo-sequel of Hunchback. However it’s really a lie, it’s has as little to do with anything similar to the source material or any other version. They could have easily name drop a character even by their job title. Like a line about Quasi having a crush on a dancing girl would have been at least something.

Quasi gave me an existential crisis. After over a decade of nothing (aside from musicals) this what came out? Then to pile on, not long after Quasi came out there was the “news” about Disney getting cold feet about their Hunchback live-action remake.

When Disney first really started getting into the trend of live-action remakes I thought it was a forgone conclusion that they would give Hunchback the same treatment. In 2019 it was announced that they were going remake it with Josh Gad. And then Menken recently said the project was in limbo. There seems to be some dispute on “Hellfire” though that could have been an example that Menken offered and there is more issues that not being reported. Prior to this Gad had alluded to the hope that the ‘powers that be” letting them make the movie in a way that the original movie deserves. Seems like the executives and the creatives have differing opinions on how this movie should be handled.

Disney has always been blind about Hunchback. Many have mused that they marketed the film all wrong which focused on the “Topsy Turvey” number and the gargoyles making it seem fun and bright for kids and while for it’s for kids, it’s not the typically Disney fare. Then there is what happen with the musical and Disney not being clear about the reason it didn’t go to Broadway. The darker tones and social commentary doesn’t fit neatly into Disney’s brand. It seems the don’t mind dipping their toes in it but the original Disney movie was a too deep a plunge.

Disney hasn’t officially scarped the live-action Hunchback version yet but the live-action remake format does seem to be getting old. Some people like the new takes on the older movies but many more do not. And the Disney remakes are a whole other can of worms/discourse.

So as of now I’m of two minds. I loathed that Quasi was the version that got made and I loathe that Disney is trying is trying to pull out the remake. Good or bad I wanted that remake. At least that was back in 2019 which feels like a different era for multiple reasons. Since the Hunchback remake announcement in January 2019 there had been only 8 remakes in this tread cycle not including the 3 prior to 2010. Since January 2019 there has been 10 remakes to come out. On average these 10 movies have a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 57% with an audience score of 65% and a Metacritic critics’ score of 53 and Metacritic user of 4.6/10 on average as this post. (I hope my math checks out)

The feelings of the live-action remakes differs for person to person, movie to movie. Some love the new takes and others don’t think they hold a candle to original animated movie as Disney just doesn’t understand the original animated movies. Of course this could be the result of fairytale sentimentality not working in the meta-modern film landscape. Also what works in animation does not work in live action as they are different film mediums and Disney should take different fairytales, or myths or folktales and make those into live action movies. There are plenty live-action fairytale movies out there for inspiration. But that method would be more of a risk for company and they do like the tried and true even if the onset of the Disney Renaissance proved antithetical to that way of thinking.

Given the state of the trend of live action remakes maybe it’s a good thing if Disney is forgoing Hunchback for now but in the same beat I do hate that a very bad non-version even got made. And there it is! I no longer want a “new” version simply for its existence. Just for content fodder. Realistically Quasi should not counted as version but that was it was promoted so it is sadly part of the conversation.

I do want a new version done with some earnest endeavor but if that is not to be then so be it. I will be grateful for the versions that already exist. The ones we have right now, the good parts and the bad parts, I am content with them. Perhaps I will revisit them because as I said things have changed.

A Puppet of Quasimodo bells Disney Hunchback of notre dame picture image
A Puppet of Quasimodo during the Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

TLDR- I used to want new version of Hunchback just to have a new version, quality didn’t matter because content. But with Disney get cold feet regarding the Hunchback remake and the Disney live action remake trend floundering (no pun intend) mixed with how bad 2023’s Quasi was and just the world and life changing I longer want that. I’d rather have a good solid well-crafted version than a bad or lazy version just for content or just for something new. Instead I will be grateful for all the versions we have right now, the good parts and the bad parts.

Brief Update on Disney Live-Action of Hunchback

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Disclaimer- I know nothing outside of what is being reported.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

With the upcoming Little Mermaid Live Action version coming out this moth, Alan Menken drop a little update on the Hunchback Live Action version which can be read here; https://comicbook.com/movies/news/alan-menken-shares-update-live-action-hunchback-of-notre-dame-movie-hercules-broadway-exclusive-interview/

In a nutshell, the project is in limbo. Menken mentions the seriousness of the issues that Hunchback deals with and them brings up Hellfire. So it sounds like there COULD be a debate over this the version should be a musical as Menken say they can’t do the version without “Hellfire.”

Of course I could be completely wrong and the question of about it being a musical is not the reason but it does give credence to what Josh Gad said on instagram back in March “and hopefully the powers that be will see this love and let us make the live action adaptation the original animated film deserves.” (source)

Disney’s live action remakes do seems to flirt with making them musical or not. They are very half in half out. Mulan no but Beauty and the Beast yes. Cinderella has some diegetic singing but Little Mermaid will be a musical and then there is Lion King speaking “Be Prepare” but the studio wanted to cut it.

So the Hunchback is in limbo. Perhaps the studio feels like it could be taken more “seriously” without the songs and they can get their precious industry accolades if make it gritter and real which a musical would hindered. But the creatives want the music and the fans seem to want the songs.

Meanwhile Disney let a subsidiary (Searchlight) make a farce version that is Hunchback in name only so who knows what Disney is doing these days.

So TLDR – Hunchback version in Limbo

Thoughts on this Mary Sue Article

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https://www.themarysue.com/disney-is-still-remaking-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-and-i-have-concerns/

I have a sinus infection and I’m really tired. I’m also tired of the fallout from the stupid fan-casting which weird took parts from a Disney Fanon Wiki . Also I have posted too many times this week and I still haven’t watch any more Magical adventures …..

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The article talks about representation for the Travelers characters. The article has concerns about casting Romani actors for the roles. Which would be a good look for Disney BUT would people of Romani descent even want to portrayed these characters or be in this project? It would come down to the script of course. I am not Romani so obviously I will not say anything one way or the other besides that I think the article is well-intentioned in their concerns over the casting.

To my knowledge there has been one performer of Romani-descent who played Esmeralda in the Russian cast of Notre Dame de Paris, Diana Savelyeva.

However the article also mentions the book where Quasimodo is deaf and how this should be considered for casting the Disney remake. And yes he is deaf in novel but he is not in the Disney version just like how, whether you like it or not, Esmeralda is not a born Traveler in the book. She was swapped with Quasimodo when she was young (I think she was two.) So this is a cherry-picked bit of “concern.”

If this version wants to make Quasimodo deaf like the book, fine and if they want to keep to the Disney film that is also fine. There something a little less than genuine however when one’s concern for representation brings up the source that would make concern for Esmeralda’s casting a little moot.

Gad’s Quote about the “Powers”

Then there is what Gad said in regards to the fancast which alludes to “the Powers” being on the fence about this version. Gad said;

“Wow. This spread quickly. For the record, this is not real. This is a [Fan-Cast]! I was just responding to it. Love that you guys all want this. We do [too]! The script is one of the best I have read and hopefully the powers that be will see this love and let us make this live-action adaptation the original film deserves.“

It’s the last sentence that gives me pause. NOW this could mean that Disney has not fully committed to it. Or it could mean the executives are micro-managing the creatives. Or it could mean something else.

The other pause is that release date which is now SUS. Sure movies get pushed back all the time but that bit of news didn’t get much or any traction. The Mary Sue article didn’t even mention it and on July 5th 2024 is when The Lion King prequel comes out.

Wouldn’t two Disney live-action movies released the same month be a weird move? Wouldn’t they be competition for each other?

I feel confused and this site https://mickeyblog.com/2023/03/21/josh-gad-hunchback-notre-dame/ is saying there is no release date and this project isn’t even if the pipeline. Though IMDB has it as “excepted.”

Just wake me when there is real news until then…

(I’m sick….I shouldn’t post when I’m sick)

Is the Hunchback TikToK Fan-Cast Actually Real?

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By now many of you have seen this poster or the tiktok.

Live Action Fan Cast

Now, in case you want to know if this is true or not I would say it’s fake. There is good evidence that the release date for this movie is July 19th 2024. There has been a few news pieces on that and it’s on IMDB which grain of salt but it is still far easier to create a photoshop image and TikTok than it to edit IMDB. So unless that release day is wrong this is fake and it is.

BUT let’s just LOOK at the “casting.” It is rather easy to tell which roles the actors are intended for.

Josh Gad as Quasimodo. I have said much on this subject already. If he doesn’t play Quasimodo it would be MORE of a shocker. And until it’s officially announced I maintain he likely to Quasimodo for this version.

Gal Gadot for Esmeralda. Again I have said a bit on this one in my IMDB trivia post however Gadot is set to play the Evil Queen in the Snow White remake so it is less likely that she would play two different Disney remake characters for movies that release the same year (unless the the July 2024 date is wrong.)

Chris Evans for Phoebus. I mean sure that could work. Evans fits the actor-type for Phoebus.

Peter Capaldi for Frollo. I’ve said that an actor for Frollo should have a hard, angular look to them and Capaldi does. I’ll admit I’m not familiar his roles so I don’t know how good a Frollo he would be but the base look is there.

Imelda Staunton as Laverne. I have seen Staunton is a few different roles but as Laverne? Maybe I’m sure she can handle the role, it’s not complex just a mixing of grumpy and tender.

Kelsey Grammer as Victor. Sure why not. Victor is the mid-point between the gargoyles so the character can be anything that the production needs to balance out the group. So a snarky elegance could work.

Jack Black as Hugo. I still would prefer no gargoyles for this remake but Black does have a quality to him that could soften Hugo’s sense of humor and make it more endearing. It is however not beyond the scope that the gargoyles could have different personas in the remake unlikely but it still a change that could happen

Sacha Baron Cohen as Clopin. I do like the idea of le mis actor in another Victor Hugo related movie project so sure why not.

Also according to Gad this fan-casting is not real (https://www.justjared.com/2023/03/21/josh-gad-confirms-hes-not-actually-starring-in-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-movie-for-now-at-least/)

Edit June 2023- Was looking through old posts and I found this one from July 12th 2018 (a few months before the Live Action version was even announced) basically it’s a fan-casting that is very similar…

https://www.thehunchblog.com/2018/07/12/a-not-real-casting-list-for-a-disney-remake/

Quasimodo and the Actors who love him

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Disclaimer- These are my opinions..

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Over the years there has been a few new adaptations announcements about Hunchback movies/series in development with the most recent announcement being the next to release on April 20th 2023.

Aside from one version, all announcements centered around an actor leading the project with the expressed casting themselves as playing Quasimodo.

Patrick Timsit as Quasimodo & Melanie Thierry as Esmeralda Quasimodo d'El Paris picture image
Patrick Timsit as Quasimodo & Melanie Thierry as Esmeralda

Now this isn’t new, Lon Chaney (1923) and Patrick Timsit (1999) both more or less lead their respective projects. It does seem inevitable that Josh Gad will play Quasimodo in 2024 Disney Live-Action version and Kevin Heffernan with Quasimodo in the Broken Lizard version, Quasi. But the question is, Is this really a bad thing?

Quasimodo is a unique role for actors. One has to combine physicality with pathos which is more or less the dream combination for many actors. And one does not have to be “Leading Man Handsome.” In fact it works to an actor’s advantage not to be “that type” for a certain believability. Just think of the most “handsome” or “hottest” actor you can think of. Can you really imagine them playing Quasimodo? Maybe you can and maybe can’t.

Josh Gad for Quasimodo picture image
Josh Gad

So take an actor like Josh Gad, he does not have many lead roles. He is most known for voicing Olaf in Frozen, a side-character. A memorable side-character from very well loved movie but still not a starring role. In that same vein he also played LeFou in the live action version of Beauty and the Beast.

Now this is just an opinion but given that Gad is producing both the 2024 Hunchback remake and the Beauty and the Beast series, which follows LeFou and Gaston, my guess that he trying to make opportunities for himself within the system. He has already played LeFou and a Hunchback remake was inevitable given the Disney film making landscape right now. Coupled with the allure of playing a role like Quasimodo which was more or less up for grabs given a chance. A chance that he may not have gotten had he not jump at producing the project outright.

So is it a bad thing for actors to create projects where they can cast themselves in the leading role? It defiantly speaks to a self-serving privilege BUT I don’t think it bad. Given that seven announced Hunchback projects that were actor-lead that have been announced since 2010 and only two of them have release dates, it doesn’t mean that said actor who leading the project will even get to play the role. The other projects may have fizzled out or be stuck in-development-hell.

So while Gad wasn’t high on my casting picks for Quasimodo he may bring an earnest to the role that the Disney animated version possessed.

An Idea for the Gargoyles for the Disney Live Action version

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Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

After looking through the casting rumors for the Disney live action movie it is apparent that the Gargoyles are going to be comedic. The Gargoyles are a point of contention for the original Disney film as their humor was too much for the overall tone of the movie.

There has been two musicals based on Disney’s Hunchback that took different approaches to Quasimodo’s imaginary friends. The German musical made the Gargoyles subtle in their humor. They were characters but they didn’t mess with the tone of the production. In the American musical version there are not gargoyles or characters so to speak but there is an ensemble or the congregation. They are more like voices that are part of the cathedral as in statues or stained glass windows.

Rumor had it that the congregation was a reason why the show didn’t go to Broadway because of the amount of people it called for and the The Actors’ Equity Association. I do not know if that is true.

Getting back to the 2024 Live action version, the actors rumored to being playing the Gargoyles are Ed Helms for Victor, Jane Lynch for Laverne, and Jason Alexander reprising Hugo. So this would make Gargoyles go in a comedy direction.

However can the production has its proverbial cake and eat it too? Yes! Yes, it could! And if the movie goes for this method I would just assume they had the same idea as me, which would be great.

I think they should use the actors who they cast as the Gargoyles to also play townspeople, like the ones that Quasimodo made models depicting, the people who Quasimodo sings “Knowing them as they will never know me.” So Jason Alexander go play Hugo and also play the baker for example.

Contextually this would make the Gargoyles part of Quasimodo’s parasocial relationship with the people of Paris. They can still be humorous but it would make the characters both darker and sadder without the need for any lines to explain it. The production would just need to show actors early on in their townspeople roles which they can easily do in the opening number, The Bells of Notre Dame. Unless they do something else with the opening.

So that is one way this version could still have funny gargoyles that could offer Quasimodo more pathos.

I’m sure there way to convey this in the narrative in this movie wants to go in that sort of direction and it’s also they don’t. We shall see.

The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

What do you guys think? How would you like the gargoyles handled in line action version?

Analyzing the Trivia for the Live Action Version

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The Disney live action version is over a year away with a release date set for July 2024 but I though it would fun to look through the IMDB trivia as it is in early February 2023 and offer my thoughts. You can see the IMDB trivia HERE.

Most of these are rumors. I also know that actors’ job is to act and one can’t completely base opinions of an actor’s capabilities on other work/characters they have done, so grain of salt with some of my opinions. Also with a grain of salt all of these since IMDB can easily be edited. Also singing a is part of this casting consideration.

“Chris Hemsworth has expressed interest in the role of Captain Phoebus.”

I can see that casting as a good choice. I wrote a post about Hemsworth as a hypothetical casting picks which you can read here.

“A live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) was announced in January 2019.”

This is true. I believe it was the 16th though I did a post on the 17th ( blog post) However unlike the first reports I don’t think this version will be called “Hunchback” like 1997 version.

“Lin-Manuel Miranda has expressed interest in playing Clopin.”

On a personal level I think I would prefer another actor to play Clopin but I’m more ambivalent about this casting should it come to pass.

“Jason Alexander is rumored to reprise the role of the comical gargoyle Hugo.”

My opinion is that Jason Alexander reprising his role would not be a good idea. First off no one really gravitated to the gargoyles so having them in the movie seems not the best call. And if this version reframes them to be not annoying we are still going to be reminded of the previous version based on Alexander’s involvement.

Though I could see one way that the production could have their cake and eat it too as making the gargoyles both comical and sad/dark. This post is long enough so I will do a separate post on that.

“Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is reported to be in consideration for the role of Phoebus.“

Again this was a previous hypothetical casting post I did ages ago. I think he would work I just worry that he might be too mature for the role. But it could be fine.

“According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has tapped the Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang to pen the script. In addition, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz will write the music, as they did for the 1996 animated original; their combined work on that movie nabbed them Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.“

David Henry Hwang is attached to this project and he has since the project was first announced. I have no knowledge of his work so we shall see.

“Robert Bathurst expressed interest in playing the villain Claude Frollo, following his antagonistic performance as Dottor Massimo in The Thief Lord (2006).”

I haven’t heard of The Thief Lord nor am I certain that it would a good basis for an actor or like I said, if we should basis previous roles for this hunchback version but I will slightly for this piece of trivia.

I have been a fan of Downton Abbey for a while and Bathurst (who was in seasons one and three) would not be my top pick for the role. I know much can be achieve with make-up and costuming but he doesn’t seem to have the right look for Disney’s Frollo.

Now Iain Glen who was also on Downton Abbey (season 2) would make a great Frollo, he has a certain look for it and apparently he can sing. I guess what I’m saying is that Frollo should look hard with sharp angles, no softness.

“Pamela Adlon has expressed interest in playing a new character.“

I don’t know what this would even mean. Looking into her roles she has done quite a lot of voice work so I’m not sure if she means doing that or not. A new character could mean anything but new characters are fine.

“Simon Russell Beale is possibly being considered to play the Archdeacon. Colm Wilkinson is also being considered, having portrayed a similar role in the 2012 film adaptation of the hit musical “Les Miserables.“

So there are two trivia nuggets in this one. I mean either actor is fine, Beale has more movie acting experience than Wilkinson and Wilkinson’s casting in the Les Mis movie was an homage because he was the original Valjean on Broadway so Wilkinson doesn’t the same type of connection to this project that he did with Le Mis, aside from Victor Hugo musicals adaptations.

I’m not sure what the analogous would be to casting someone for another Hunchback project. The mischievous part of me say cast someone from Notre Dame de Paris or one the OG Disney Hunchback musical performers, like Patrick Page. But I have no really strong opinions on the Archdeacon’s casting, at least at this point.

Actually I quite like the idea of Patrick Page playing the Archdeacon in this version.

“Gal Gadot expressed interest in playing Esmeralda.“

In fairness, Esmeralda does skew older in the Disney movie. It’s well known that in the novel she is sixteen however in the Disney version she comes off as older but she is still youthful enough as she is referred as “girl’ throughout the movie.

I just wonder if Gadot as Esmeralda is be a bridge too far? However 40 year old guys often play a 20 year old Quasimodo and an over 50 year old is “under consideration” for this version of Phoebus so the remake just may skew older with casting which would make a more maternal Esmeralda for an oldish Quasimodo work. However I do feel like an age-ish ass for this casting opinion. But Gadot can sing so there is that in her favor and she has a good look for Esmeralda too.

“As of July 14, 2019, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is under consideration to play Phoebus.”

Trivia so nice, they listed it twice. As of Early 2023 there is not casting information out yet so it’s unclear how far this consideration has really gone or if Coster-Waldau is at all interested the role. He might not be.

“Ed Helms has expressed interest in playing the comical gargoyle Victor.“

Given this bit of trivia and the one about Jason Alexander and the one that follows, the gargoyles are not being re-contexturized they are going to comic relief. Maybe the humor will be better than animated but we shall see.

“Jane Lynch is rumored to play the comical gargoyle Laverne.“

I feel like I need make peace with new Disney Gargoyles. I don’t relish the idea of Lynch as Laverne but I can see others getting a kick out it, so my opinion is ambivalence. Also it would just be her voice so that might be fine.

I did an anti-hypothetical casting post for Lynch for a book character who is an older-ish woman character so… there is that.

“Josh Gad is set to produce, and as of July 14, 2019, confirmed to be in consideration to play Quasimodo.”

It’s not at all surprising that the actor spearing-heading the project would want to play Quasimodo. That just seems to be how it goes down from Chaney to Timsit to like six other hunchback projects that were announced but never made. I also assume that for the Broken Lizard version called Quasi, Kevin Heffernan, who is also the producer, director and screenwriter will play Quasimodo.

Do I see Gad as being the ideal casting pick for Quasimodo? No. Is he likely to be cast as Quasimodo for this project? I would be surprised if he wasn’t.

“This will be the sixth remake of a Walt Disney Animation Studios movie that is from the Disney Renaissance, after Beauty and the Beast (2017), Aladdin (2019), The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), and The Little Mermaid (2023).“

Factually yes.

“The production on the film was temporarily halted in March 2020 due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, until six months.“

Makes sense I’m just a little confused was it halted for six months or did it resume six months after this trivia was posted? I mean I shouldn’t question anyone grammar.

“Becky G has expressed interest in playing Esmeralda.”

I have never heard of her so I no clue if she would be a good choice for the role. Not a choice I would have considered looking into her filmography but if she capable at playing the role effectuality, maybe. But not a first pick for casting.

“Hiba Abouk is rumored to play Esmeralda.“

I have never heard of her. She is a little on the older side to play Esmeralda, she is within the same age range as Gadot. She does a have a good look for Esmeralda but I don’t know much about her or her acting capacity. I suppose in fairness to her and Gadot they don’t look their ages (whatever that means in today’s society) and Esmeralda is more motherly in Disney, so maybe.

‘Vocal coach and opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff hopes that Hellfire emulates Jonathan Young‘s metal cover for the movie, as well as in stage productions.“

I’m not sure why this is IMDB trivia. But it would be great if the Hellfire was as cinematic as the animated version. I don’t think a metal version for the film would work but the production can prove me wrong.

“To be released on the occasion of the original The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)’s 28th anniversary.”

Cool. Though the Animated version came out June 21st 1996 and this version is to be released July 19th 2024 so does this indicate there are advance screening planned in June 2024? Or is this piece trivia just incorrect?

“Set to be the first live-action movie musical adaptation of the novel.”

Neat? I do suppose a single song/dance does not make for a musical or the 56 version would have it beat.

“Josh Gad, Alan Menken, and Stephen Schwartz would also work on the Untitled Josh Gad/Jeremy Garelick Musical Project, even though that movie was originally going to be made in the 2010s.”

So they teamed up once prior and the project didn’t get made? Given Hollywood this seems very normal.

Who would you like to see cast in this version? Remember they have to be able to sing. I hope this means Phoebus gets a song or two.

Tiny Little News Nuggets for The Hunchback Live-Action

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This post is more off the cuff than normal

Here is a news article about what is I guess known about the not-newest Hunchback version, which is the Broken Lizard version, but the Disney one

https://movieweb.com/disney-hunchback-of-notre-dame-everything-we-know/

So here are some core bits points.

According to this article fans “want’ Josh Gad to play Quasimodo. I’m not on instagram, nor am I all that plugged into what is the cultural zeitgeist of fan casting for Quasimodo is on the internet (which I don’t think is all that up there in relevance.) With respect to Gad, he would not be my first pick. I did listen to a podcast from awhile ago that tangentially mentioned him playing Clopin based on instagram stuff.

I only pegged him as Quasimodo in the past because he was making a push for this adaptation and it just seemed to a role that male actors want to play, for good reason. Also if you read a recent casting post I made, Gad is in the age range for Quasimodo actors, as he is 41. A year older than the average of 40.

However the article has no insight on casting but there is some info on the crew. Also the article says that the movie has a release date of July 19th, 2024.

Also an article from The Wrap (which I’m not linking because of laziness) put Notre Dame de Paris as 3rd (or maybe 4th I can’t recall, this why you shouldn’t be lazy like me) worst production of 2022 in New York City. It is very interesting how mixed the NYC reaction was to the show. I do get that it’s not a perfect show, I still love it but I can understand other POVs on it. The production isn’t super concern whether or not the plot makes sense but it’s more about emotions. And maybe that is an excuse but if people/theater critics didn’t like the show then so be it.

So there is some new nuggets for the end of the year.

Disney is Remaking Hunchback

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This is the exact reason I still have Google Alerts.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney announced today that Hunchback is the next film in their roaster to get a live-action remake.  I have been waiting for this day for a long time.   

Here is what is know so far. Josh Gad is produce the film. Just a quick note back in late 2015 I did a post which discussed a fan casting that appeared in my google alerts and Josh Gad was their pick for Quasimodo
you can read it here

Josh Gad for Quasimodo picture image
Josh Gad

Now I couldn’t see this casting pick at the time but Gad is an actor so if he DOES follow suit like so many men who have played or have aspired to play Quasimodo to showcase their acting prowess and have a hand in the production, he might be fine in the role.
Just a note, he may not play Quasimodo but there is a trend that men spearheading Hunchback versions do so to play the  role, Gad may just want to produce, we will have to wait and see.

Another piece of information we have is they Tony- winning Playwright David Henry Hwang is writing the screenplay and the film will simply be called Hunchback. Like the 1997 version.

Hwang’s work include Chinglish, Yellow Face, Kung Fu, Golden Child, The Dance of the Railroad. He also has worked on Aida, Flower Drum Song, Disney’s Tarzan and M. Butterfly. 

It would seem that the  remake will take its cue from the 1996 movie and the book and not the stage production.    

Also this version will be a musical with Menken and Schwartz heading the music. So that is good.

What do you think? Are you over the Disney live-action remake trend? Are you excited? Are you afraid Disney is going to ruin it?
Thoughts and feelings welcome.

Source – https://www.cnet.com/news/hunchback-of-notre-dame-next-to-get-disney-remake-treatment/
Source – https://deadline.com/2019/01/hunchback-movie-disney-live-action-david-henry-hwang-josh-gad-alan-menken-stephen-schwartz-1202536031/