Merrily We Roll Along Movie 20-Year Filming Plan Still Moving Forward
Director Richard Linklater confirms that production on Merrily We Roll Along is keeping to the 20-year schedule. Backed by Blumhouse Productions, the film is an adaptation of the 1981 coming-of-age musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. In turn, the musical was based on a play by the same name, created by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart, depicting the life of a successful playwright in reverse order from 1934 to 1916. Starring Beanie Feldstein as Mary Flynn, Ben Platt as Charley Kringas, and Blake Jenner as Franklin Shepard, the film (like Sondheim’s musical) will instead focus on the lives of three friends in reverse order, showing how age and ambition have affected their personalities and relationships.
Now, during an interview with The Daily Beast, Linklater confirms that work on Merrily We Roll Along is continuing as planned. "It's going great," he assured, reiterating his intention to film across a 20-year period. Though he admitted that the "future is uncertain," Linklater added that the project was a "fun challenge" and a "wonderful experiment" that was already underway.
Related: Richard Linklater's Net Worth
Known for the Oscar-winning film, Boyhood, which he shot over a 12-year period, Linklater is no stranger to dedicated, long-term production schedules. Filming for Merrily We Roll Along is expected to pick up every couple of years in order to reflect the characters' ages authentically, thus addressing a common practical problem faced by the musical. Each segment of the picture is reportedly structured into a short film, with production on the first act already complete. Also attached to the project for the long haul are Jason Blum, Ginger Sledge, and Jonathan Marc, who join Linklater as producers.
More:
Read more on screenrant.com
