Only a few would argue in opposition to the truth that Hugh Jackman is one among our largest film stars. The person might value solely on his portrayal of the world well-known X-Males member Wolverine, which he lately revived for the 2024 summer time blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine. However even exterior of the superhero style, Jackman has been nominated for an Oscar (for Les Miserables), hosted the Oscars, collaborated with celebrated auteurs, and banked greater than $7.5 billion in worldwide field workplace. And one large contributor to that total whole was Michael Gracey’s 2017 musical The Biggest Showman… which Jackman nearly left earlier than it ended.
Michael Gracey is at present making the rounds in help of his newest musical endeavor Higher Man, an unorthodox biopic of the UK singing sensation Robbie Williams that traces his profession from his earliest days as a member of Take That, to some debilitating lows. Throughout an unique interview with CinemaBlend, Gracey opened up about a few of his personal profession hurdles, and informed a narrative about Hugh Jackman taking an opportunity on him as a comparatively unproven filmmaker… after which nearly strolling away from the challenge.
In response to Gracey:
Famously on my first movie, I had a second – which I do not thoughts speaking about, as a result of Hugh has talked about it in interviews – the place Hugh tried to drag out of The Biggest Showman. If Hugh had left The Biggest Showman, that movie by no means would’ve received made. It solely received made as a result of he backed me as a primary time filmmaker to do an unlimited authentic musical. Which, on the time, nobody was involved in. However there was a second, after many, a few years of engaged on it and lots of, a few years of us not getting it up, the place Hugh really known as me into the room and mentioned, ‘I am out. We’re not going to do that.’ And I needed to discuss Hugh again into the movie.
Clearly, it labored, as a result of Hugh Jackman appeared within the authentic musical, based mostly on the lifetime of P.T. Barnum, and it ended up being probably the most financially profitable movies on Jackman’s resume. Powered by the unique songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, The Biggest Showman grew to become a juggernaut, successful over followers and huge audiences week after week till it earned $459 million worldwide in opposition to a reported $84 million. And it nearly didn’t occur. No less than, based on Michael Gracey. So I suppose you possibly can thank him for this tune:
In the event you liked Hugh Jackman’s The Biggest Showman, you may need to contemplate giving Higher Man a attempt, because it delivers on the identical show-stopping musical numbers that Gracey did within the earlier movie. Solely, by fashioning the spectacle round Robbie Williams’ music – and persona – Gracey has created a ribald piece of pop leisure that’s in contrast to any film on the market proper now.
And if you are at it, take a spin via our information to the upcoming 2025 motion pictures that might be reaching theaters within the subsequent few weeks and months, to plan your subsequent journey to the multiplex.