World building is a full-time job forGreg Berlanti, the man who spearheaded the ever-expandingArrow-verse on The CW. But he has some directing chops, too. His last feature film was in 2010 withLife As We Know Itand he directedSigourney Weaverin the pilot episode for USA’sPolitical Animals. He’s set to return to the director’s chair for a film about DC hero Booster Gold, but today brings word that he’s adding a cinematic revamp ofLittle Shop of Horrorsto that list.
Deadlinereports that Berlanti will helm the new movie musical based on a script byMatthew Robinson.Little Shop of Horrorsoriginated on the stage as a musical from directorRoger Corman, a script byHoward Ashman, and compositions fromAlan Menken. It was famously adapted for the silver screen by Ashman for directorFrank Ozin 1986 with a cast, includingRick Moranis,Vincent Gardenia,Steve Martin,Ellen Greene, andBill Murray.
Image via Warner Bros.
Berlanti’s film is described as “a fresh take” on the story, which tells of a man who raises a plant that turns out to be carnivorous. He then starts killing people in order to keep it alive, but it’s a musical, so there’s plenty of camp.
But before Little Shop of Horrors, the filmmaker will next helm an adaptation of the young-adult novelSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, with Nick Robinson (Jurassic World)in talks to star. The film tells of a closeted gay teen who’s blackmailed by the class clown when he discovers a revealing email. On top of that, he has aBooster Goldmovie in development that’s said to beset outside the DC Extended Universe.
News ofLittle Shop of Horrorscomes after the recent boom of musicals on the small screen. It began withThe Sound of Music, broadcast live on NBC, which they followed withPeter Pan,The Wiz, and nowHairspray Live!, which will bow on December 7th. FOX followed suit withGrease: Live!,The Passion, andThe Rocky Horror Picture Show. Now ABC is getting in on the game, after announcing earlier this year to be tapping Disney’s vast library for its own live musical television performance.
They’ve been less frequent on the big screen, but Disney hasMarry Poppins Returnsplanned for next year, and Universal is readyingWickedfora movie in 2018. For those who don’t already live in a major city or don’t have any inclination to go back and watch the originalLittle Shop of Horrors, these adaptations help make musicals accessible to the general populace — which is why I say more power to Berlanti.
image via Warner Bros.
