Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Live Filmed Version of ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ On Broadway

by

Sony Pictures Classic has secured the global distribution rights for the movie adaptation of the latest Broadway revival of “Merrily We Roll Along”.

Last season’s Broadway production, featuring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, which clinched four Tony Awards including the best revival of a musical, will be making its way to cinemas as a filmed version, as confirmed by a spokesperson.

Maria Friedman oversaw the revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical that delves into the friendships of three characters. Instead of unfolding in a typical sequence, it moves backward in time, covering multiple decades and concluding with their first encounter at college. Both Groff and Radcliffe were honored with Tony Awards for their performances as Franklin Shepard, the composer, and his companion Charley, the playwright. The show was staged at the Hudson Theater from October 2023 to July 2024.

Originally, the play premiered on Broadway in 1981 but closed after just 16 shows. However, over time, it gained a following as cult-classic status, with Sondheim and book writer George Furth making adjustments. Directors and producers from different generations have since strived to stage and enhance the production, which includes hits like “Not a Day Goes By” and “Our Time.” Friedman’s production was praised by critics for its emphasis on the main characters and exceptional performances by Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez.

Beyond Radcliffe, Groff, and Mendez, the cast of this production also includes Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, and Reg Rogers.

The movie is created by Sonia Friedman, David Babani, Patrick Catullo, F. Richard Pappas, Jon Kamen from RadicalMedia, and Dave Sirulnick. The agreement for this production was arranged between Metzger Iwashina Media and Danny Passman of Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, acting on behalf of the producers, with Sony Pictures Classics.

A 20-year long movie project helmed by director Richard Linklater and featuring actors like Paul Mescal, Ben Platt, and Beanie Feldstein as leads is currently being planned for production.

Sony Pictures Classics is the ideal place for our movie. From the outset, they resonated with our sentiments – understanding that ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ is essentially a tale about friendship: its evolution, its endurance, and its impact on personal growth. This isn’t merely a film adaptation of a stage play; it’s something deeper, more intimate. The camera allows us to witness every subtle emotion, every subtle change, thereby drawing viewers in closer than ever before,” Friedman expressed.

Read More

2025-04-01 19:25