Image Credit: Ari Mintz
Daniel Radcliffe hadn’t even hit the stage in Broadway’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying when whispers started that he was in talks to star in a new movie adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical. Weeks later, his fans love the production — “We’re getting great support in the theater every night,” he says — and the critics are mostly on board as well. (Read EW stage editor Thom Geier’s A- review here.) So it seemed like the perfect time to ask if there is any truth to the rumors.
“The producers of the show would not be doing their jobs properly if they were not at this moment in time talking about the possibility of a How to Succeed movie,” Radcliffe tells EW. “I, however, am just focused on the next year of my life, basically. A lot of things would have to be right for it to happen. In terms of the script, I think it’s very hard to adapt. But, you know, nor am I going to rule out the possibility, because I don’t want to be presented with a brilliant script and say, ‘Oh, well, I said no to the press.’ It’s just something I’m not even thinking about.”
So what to you think, film/Broadway/Radcliffe fans, should he be thinking about it?
Read more:
‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ EW review
Daniel Radcliffe in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ — EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK
Daniel Radcliffe in Broadway’s ‘How to Succeed’: Behind-the-scenes footage!
Daniel Radcliffe returns to Broadway for musical debut in 2011
Anderson Cooper joins Daniel Radcliffe in ‘How to Succeed’
(I mean this as a compliment) If they ever make a “Wicked” movie, he’d be a great Boq.
He seriously would!
I would love to see Daniel in a remake of Easter Parade
Daniel recieved horrible reviews today in the Washington Post. I think once his Harry Potter career is over, he will disappear from the public eye.
That’s one review out of several. I think once you read more than one review, you can have a more well informed opinion.
oh Kenneth. Poor silly mis-informed Kenneth who only bothers to read one review. LOL
Pity you’re so stupid. Ah well we can’t all be winners.
i don’t think anyone nowadays reads just one review, if any. Isn’t that why some reviewers were let go – their job became irrelevant? I think Dan’s going to have a long and interesting career. He’s certainly making intriguing choices.
You came to that conclusion after reading just one review? I’ve read quite a few reviews and found there were more positives than negatives. Not everyone is going to love the show or his performance… that’s why I wouldn’t trust one little critic’s opinion when it comes to a show or an actor.
Seeing as how I don’t live in New York and probably won’t get a chance to see it on Broadway, I would love to see a film adaptation.
Same here! I was even considering a trip to NYC to see it, but that seems a little extravagent right now. Would love to see his performance in this though! I hope they can swing a movie!
The original film version of this is hilarious, although it is REALLY long for a musical (just over two hours). I think a remake would be fun. Yes please!
FWIW, I don’t think two hours is “really long” for a musical. Some sample movie musical lengths: Fiddler: 3 hours; Sound of Music: 2 hrs 54 min; Oliver:; 2 1/2 hr; Rent: 2 hrs 15 min.
I believe ‘My Fair Lady’ is also one of the long ones, almost three hours.
Treasure trail…
he should, be thinking about the effing stage show, they haven’t opened properly yet. that is where his attention should be. not on a movie of something that hasn’t even proved itself on stage yet.
To be fair, the last sentence in his quote is, “It’s just something I’m not even thinking about.”
Seems to me like his focus IS on the stage show, and that he was just responding to a reporter’s question.
he’s answering a question, he didnt start this conversation. i though this was pretty obvious.
Let’s get the stage adaptation out of the way first… although I would love to see another film version of this!!!
Go for it
This has been made into a film before and it was quite excellent (a little long though) so it can certainly be done. I would love to see another film version of this.
He should be focusing on scripting a “Harry Potter: Ninja Wizard” blockbuster.
Not to be cranky, but are there no original ideas left in Hollywood that they need to make movies out of more Broadway shows, as well as every comic book, TV show and fairytale, as well as sequels of movies made 25-30 years ago, if not sooner? People shouldn’t get paid astronomical amounts of money to make movies from unoriginal ideas.
Hollywood has always adapted stuff. Even legendary films like The Godfather and A Streetcar Named Desire were adapted from literary sources
Yeah, but they weren’t remakes of existing films, were they?
I agree with you BUT, The problem is not that there aren’t original ideas. It’s that Hollywood producers like to make what will sell, and they can sell stuff that is already familiar. With original material, they have to work extra hard to be able to make money off of it, and then there is always the possibility that the new stuff will flop. What typically happens is that writers come up with original ideas and scripts and then the producers say “So now we know they can write, so let’s get them started on the script for Transformers 4.”
It’s a great idea. I do think it would be tricky to adapt the script, and there are stretches where it could get tedious. I also don’t know if today’s audiences would appreciate some of the dated material. I love “A Secretary is Not a Toy,” but I don’t know if that works on the screen today. Hmmmmm??? I would still love to see them try, since I would be thrilled to see Daniel in the role.
If there was ever a time to try, I think it is now, what with Mad Men making all things retro in vogue. I think most people could appreciate the dated material more now than 10 years ago, and maybe even 10 years from now.
You make a great point! I’m a Mad Men fan and you’re exactly right that it’s totally in vogue now to explore this era. I’m sold! They should DO IT!
That’s one of the best songs. Along with Paris Original.
It takes place in mad men time. It would be great.
This so takes me back! We did this as our Spring Musical my Junior year of high school. I’d absolutely love to see it on the big screen!
I can totally see this working as a film. The Broadway version looks brilliant and if they did decide to adapt to film, DanRad would HAVE to play the lead role. I can totally see it being a comedic, musical version of Mad Men.
But if I’m not mistaken, Dan has All Quiet on the Western Front and also an indie comedy called The Amateur Photographer to film at some point and this play just started…and of course there’s DH Part II (EW needs to post the picture of the new bada*s official poster for the movie!!!!), Dan won’t have time for a movie version.
I saw it in New York 2 weeks ago and I personally am ecstatic about this possibility. I am still thinking about how wonderful the show was and wish I could see the numbers again. If they do make this a movie, I hope they keep the choreography the same for “Brotherhood of Man” and “Grand Old Ivy.” Those numbers were spectacular, and Daniel Radcliffe was phenomenal in them.
Two things. First it’s not really hard to adapt as it has already been done and done well (with the exception of cutting Paris Original) Second, everyone screams about how dated this show is. It was dated when they first did it. It’s a satire…it’s making fun of the attitudes of the time. A Secretary is Not a Toys is a hilarious send up especially in this era of sexual harassment gone amok. Would love to see a film happen and wouldn’t change a thing.