After years of clamoring from fans to bring the cult classic to life in a new medium, Phantom of the Paradise is finally getting a new lease on life. MovieMaker Magazine announced that Paul Williams, who both starred in and wrote the soundtrack for the iconic 1974 film, is working on a stage musical version of the film with Sam Pressman, son of original producer Ed Pressman.
Scant few details are available about the development of the musical at this stage, though Pressman notes that they’d eventually like to premiere it on Broadway. (A fitting place for Winslow Leach’s genius!) A book writer has also yet to be found, though MovieMaker notes that American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis is in the running.
At this stage, there’s also no involvement from original director Brian De Palma, though the Carrie helmer’s original libretto written for a prospective stage version of his movie back in 1987 has been revisited as part of the project. “We certainly want Brian to feel honored,” Pressman said. “I went to go see Brian last fall, to talk about the dream. Phantom was an early and significant film for him and I’d say the favorite film of my father in his career. I think the chaos and originality of the whole experience was deeply inspiring.”
It’s assumed that Williams, who in addition to Phantom of the Paradise has written music for films like The Muppet Movie and A Star Is Born and artists like Helen Reddy and The Carpenters, will write and arrange the music for the stage adaptation. It’ll be a tragedy, though, when he is presumably replaced by a younger actor as Swan, the villainous record executive who sends Winslow on his path to revenge.
“I’m excited about having a chance to deliver what fans have been suggesting for years… POTP as a stage musical,” Williams said to MovieMaker. “I think its time has come!”
Stay tuned to FANGORIA for more updates on the Phantom of the Paradise musical as they arrive.
