8 Musicals Being Made Into Movies (And Why You Should Care)
4. Annie
The Musical: One of the occasional pieces of musical theatre that has a firm place in mainstream popular culture, 1977s Annie tells the familiar, Depression-era tale of the feisty, kind young orphan Annie suffering in an orphanage at the hands of the bitter Miss Hannigan, who is eventually adopted by the wealthy, gold-hearted businessman Daddy Warbucks. Why The Movies Worth Watching: Though Annie is musical theatre staple, not many in todays cynical age could read a summary like the above without getting a toothache, or perhaps a diabetic coma, from how saccharine it is. Though the tale is truly timeless with Annies latest revival closing only late last year it could very well do with a more grounded update, and thats exactly what 2014s adaptation is aiming to do. Featuring Academy-Award-nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis in the titular role, along with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz as Warbucks and Hannigan respectively, the feel-good film is aptly set for release for Christmas 2014. This version is a modern retelling of the classic piece, featuring songs from the original while replacing the outdated 1930s with the troubled streets of 21st century urbanity, presumably to add a level of relevancy, realism, and responsiveness for a modern cinema audience. All the same, while a contemporary adaptation could balance out some of the more schmaltzy aspects of the musical with a bit of grit, it should do well not to quash the unrelenting optimism of the young girl singing in hope for a better tomorrow, sure to bring a smile to the faces of even todays sceptical filmgoers.
Canadian student. Spends probably an unhealthy amount of time enthusing over musicals, unpopular TV shows, and Harry Potter. Main life goal: to become fluent in Elvish.
