Kenny Ortega, celebrated for his direction and choreography in the High School Musical and Descendants series, is now set to tackle a legendary theatrical character: the Phantom of the Opera.
As reported by Deadline, Ortega is set to direct and serve as executive producer for a young adult reimagining of the classic tale by Gaston Leroux, which will debut on Disney+. The studio is optimistic about the project’s franchise potential, aiming for success similar to that of Descendants. The screenplay has been penned by Giovanni M. Porta, and sources suggest that this will not be a direct adaptation of the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. It remains uncertain whether the film will include original music or if Ortega will also take on the role of choreographer. For further details, check out Deadline.
Besides his contributions to the aforementioned Disney projects, Ortega has an extensive background that includes work on Dirty Dancing, Hocus Pocus, Newsies, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. His most recent project was the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms.
The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a mysterious masked figure at the Paris Opera House and has inspired many adaptations for both stage and screen. Notably, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version closed on Broadway in April 2023 after an impressive 35-year run at the Majestic Theatre. Directed by Hal Prince, this production garnered seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor for Michael Crawford, while setting multiple records during its tenure. It is widely regarded as one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history.
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