‘Moulin Rouge!’ Stage Musical in the Works

Come what may, Moulin Rouge! is making its way to the stage.

The Baz Luhrmann movie-musical is being developed as a new stage musical, Global Creatures announced Thursday. Alex Timbers (Oh, Hello; Peter and the Starcatcher; Rocky) will helm the production, featuring a book by screenwriter and playwright John Logan (Red, I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers). A timeline and opening venue will be announced at a later date.

Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, the Fox title starred Ewan McGregor as Christian, a young poet who falls in love with Satine, a cabaret actress and courtesan. John Leguizamo and Jim Broadbent also were featured in the semi-jukebox musical, which included renditions of songs by Elton John, Madonna, The Police and Queen, among others. The film made its world premiere at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and earned over $179 million worldwide. It won two Oscars out of its eight nominations, including best picture.

“I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love. I immediately recognized the young director’s creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts,” Luhrmann, the film’s director, producer and co-writer, said in a statement. “So I’m tremendously happy to celebrate that Moulin Rouge! will be under his direction and that the book will be the creation of the gifted Tony Award-winning playwright John Logan whose writing I also admire deeply. It’s immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm.”

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