A Spirited Dirty Dozen ...

[lazyboy97o]

Universal doesn't have anything to sell. They do not "own" the rights. They license them from Marvel/Disney and pay a bargain price for it every year.

This is a pointless, pedantic distinction. Universal owns the license. Just because they may not be able sell it to someone else (it did make its way through all of the ownership changes from all of MCA down to just Universal City Development Partners) does not mean they cannot be paid by Disney to end the license. That there would technically be many more steps is irrelevant to the outcome or the intended, larger movements.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

That's a pretty risky bet for a show that still is one of the strongest shows currently on Broadway with a healthy touring business. It just seems like more harm than good.

Also, if they were going to do an adaptation of show, wouldn't Julie Taymor be the prudent choice as director?

Conventional wisdom for decades was that a film version would take away from live theatre sales but in the past 15-20 years, that has proven to not be the case. The film version of Chicago goosed sales tremendously on Broadway where interest was waning. Phantom was also boosted by its lame duck film adaptation. Strong brands like Lion King and Wicked are only helped by film adaptations as it spurs people who loved the movie to "see it live." When the Wicked film is released in 2019 the show will still be pulling in millions every week worldwide and the film will just boost those numbers for a prolonged period.

 

[mickeyfan5534]

So I'm sitting here in a hospitality lecture wondering if any of the people in charge in our dear Walt Disney World Resort have sat through a single second of one of these classes. Even an introduction 101 class. It'd be interesting to see someone with a degree and experience in the field take charge and see how much change we'd go through.

 

[peter11435]

So I'm sitting here in a hospitality lecture wondering if any of the people in charge in our dear Walt Disney World Resort have sat through a single second of one of these classes. Even an introduction 101 class. It'd be interesting to see someone with a degree and experience in the field take charge and see how much change we'd go through.

You would be surprised how many hospitality degrees are in charge of Walt Disney World.

 

[mickeyfan5534]

You would be surprised how many hospitality degrees are in charge of Walt Disney World.

In charge at the hotels, but in the actual parks?

 

[peter11435]

In charge at the hotels, but in the actual parks?

Yes. In the actual parks.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So I'm sitting here in a hospitality lecture wondering if any of the people in charge in our dear Walt Disney World Resort have sat through a single second of one of these classes. Even an introduction 101 class. It'd be interesting to see someone with a degree and experience in the field take charge and see how much change we'd go through.

Those degrees are plenty present, but actual experience is not desired of the Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Paul Pressler and Jay Rasulo were the last Chairmen with any prior industry experience, and it was hardly extensive.

 

[mickeyfan5534]

Those degrees are plenty present, but actual experience is not desired of the Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Paul Pressler and Jay Rasulo were the last Chairmen with any prior industry experience, and it was hardly extensive.

Ok but why? Shouldn't the people in charge of the most visited theme parks in the world be people who have extensive hospitality experience and multiple degrees in the field? It just seems like a no brainer but some bonehead forgot to put an experience requirement in the job description.

 

[ford91exploder]

Gosh, I remember being transfixed by the character of Grizabella when I first was introduced to the show in 6th grade art class. The way she was an outcast, lonely, and just wanted to be loved. Gah, I still get chills thinking about it. Will never understand why this show gets the hate it does. This song, alone, is enough to prove the haters wrong. Sorry, I could gush about the show all day long. Carry on good chaps!

I think her character speaks loudly to all of us who are 'different' from the mundanes. I also cannot understand the vitriol some have for Cats.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Conventional wisdom for decades was that a film version would take away from live theatre sales but in the past 15-20 years, that has proven to not be the case. The film version of Chicago goosed sales tremendously on Broadway where interest was waning. Phantom was also boosted by its lame duck film adaptation. Strong brands like Lion King and Wicked are only helped by film adaptations as it spurs people who loved the movie to "see it live." When the Wicked film is released in 2019 the show will still be pulling in millions every week worldwide and the film will just boost those numbers for a prolonged period.

So, in other words, a half a billion (production & marketing) commercial that hopefully will increase ticket sales to various productions of the stage show?

 

[Bairstow]

So, in other words, a half a billion (production & marketing) commercial that hopefully will increase ticket sales to various productions of the stage show?

Besides probably grossing a billion itself at the box office and in DVD/digital sales, yeah.
A "new" theatrical Lion King release is practically a license to print money.
Whether or not it's a good idea artistically remains to be seen.

 

[brb1006]

Cartoon Brew gets the story right, if we are to assume this will be a CG project like Jungle Book.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-...-not-live-action-remake-lion-king-143343.html

Leaked test footage.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Besides probably grossing a billion itself at the box office and in DVD/digital sales, yeah.
A "new" theatrical Lion King release is practically a license to print money.
Whether or not it's a good idea artistically remains to be seen.

Totally. The idea is for the movie to be profitable in its own right while spurring further interest in the show. It doesn't always work out - the Phantom movie was a bomb, but Lion King and Wicked movies are pretty much sure bets for profitability.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Ok but why? Shouldn't the people in charge of the most visited theme parks in the world be people who have extensive hospitality experience and multiple degrees in the field? It just seems like a no brainer but some bonehead forgot to put an experience requirement in the job description.

Because theme parks are stupid entertainment for stupid people.

 

[WildcatDen]

Still it was an amazing production with Elane Paige doing some of her best work ever as Grizabella.

We could probably start a new thread just on Broadway but I think a Spirited Thread is as good a place as any. I enjoyed the Cats video for what it is, basically a filmed version of the stage show. I would say Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat is much the same. Whereas Chicago, Les Miserables, and Phantom are definitely a Hollywood productions of the stage show. To a lesser degree, I suppose you could lump Evita and Rent in their as well. Still, filmed Broadway is not a bad thing. I am hoping Wicked and Hamilton get the same treatment at some point. . .

 

[RSoxNo1]

Why don't they just redo every single Disney movie at this point...

That's exactly what they're doing.

 

[Rteetz]

That's exactly what they're doing.

When's the live action remake of Frozen. That's bound to come sooner than later.

 

[RSoxNo1]

After Tomorrowland crashed and burned, you really think the studio is going to be taking a lot of expensive risks with live action in the near future?

Even relatively poorly-known IPs like the BFG and Pete's Dragon can't make any money these days.

We're learning the wrong lessons here. Pixar is the proof of concept here. Quality wins out more often than familiarity (Provided we pretend the Transformers movies never happened).

 

[RSoxNo1]

When's the live action remake of Frozen. That's bound to come sooner than later.

In the works starring Channing Tatum as Elsa.

 

[Bairstow]

We're learning the wrong lessons here. Pixar is the proof of concept here. Quality wins out more often than familiarity (Provided we pretend the Transformers movies never happened).

Yeah, but since the San Francisco movie was cancelled, Pixar still hasn't tried its hand at live action.