Paul Mescal to spend the next 20 years with Richard Linklater for Merrily We Roll Along
Aftersun's Paul Mescal will take over the lead role in the Stephen Sondheim-penned musical from from Glee alum Blake Jenner
Aux News Richard Linklater
After starring in one of the best films of 2022, Paul Mescal’s already having a hell of a 2023. He recently snagged the lead role for Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Gladiator sequel, and will now lead Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along, taking over the role from Blake Jenner, Variety reports.
Linklater is taking his extended filming method from Boyhood and pushing it even further, shooting Merrily We Roll Along over the course of 20 years. Mescal will lead the film as talented Broadway composer Franklin Shepard, who abandons his longtime friends (played by longtime friends Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein) and his trade to pursue a career as a Hollywood producer. The story is presented in reverse order, starting at the height of Shepard’s fame and ending when the friends graduate high school.
Stephen Sondheim popularized the story of Merrily We Roll Along in the ‘80s with his musical adaptation of the original 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Sondheim’s original 1981 production was a legendary flop but has since developed a cult audience over time, even appearing as the high school musical in the (also Beanie Feldstein-starring) Lady Bird.
“I first saw, and fell in love with Merrily in the ’80s and I can’t think of a better place to spend the next 20 years than in the world of a Sondheim musical,” Linklater said when the project was announced in 2019. “I don’t enter this multi-year experience lightly, but it seems the best, perhaps the only way, to do this story justice on film.”
Known for his preference for indie productions over the lure of major blockbusters, Mescal is wading into the big leagues with Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, where he will star as the adult Lucius (played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original film). For all of his astounding work in the last year, he can have a big-budget pay-off, as a little treat.
Jenner’s recasting comes as no surprise, as shortly after his casting in Merrily, he admitted to verbally and physically abusing a former partner. While he did not name her, his ex-wife Melissa Benoist later posted a video on Instagram, in which she called herself a survivor of domestic violence.
16 Comments
“Known for his preference for indie productions over the lure of major blockbusters, Mescal”
Yeah, he’s not KNOWN, much lest known for anything specific.
“I can’t think of a better place to spend the next 20 years than in the world of a Sondheim musical.” Yeah, well, definitely not the real world of the next 20 years. Send us a fucking postcard.
Ah, yes… Time… the original VFX.Seriously though, I get shooting Boyhood like that. He was a kid growing into a young man. Mescal is an adult, who will be playing a high schooler, and then… an older adult?Also, from a technical standpoint, how’s Linklater gonna shoot this? Didn’t the early scenes from Boyhood look a lot different from the later scenes, resolution-wise? Just shoot it at the highest possible quality today, and hope that in 20 years people aren’t wondering why this “new” movie isn’t a 3D hologram they can watch in their digital contact lens?
I believe Mescal’s Frank is getting out of the army in the final act, so I don’t think Mescal being in his mid-20s is too far off.I’m not too terribly concerned about the difference in the resolution over 20 years. I’m really intrigued by the approach, but I’m wondering if it will end up being less impressive because the aging is real rather than being conjured up by acting.
The infamous “have you tried acting?” quote immediately sprang to mind.
turns out that quote was a joke: Olivier knew Hoffman had been snorting coke at Studio 54 all night, that’s why he looked like shit
It’s apt and poignant still.
The most frightening inference is that Ben Platt is going to attempt to play a teen again
I love Sondheim, but 20 years on Merrily We Roll Along? That’s a big commitment for a movie that no one will see.Have any film adaptations of his shows done well? Ah well, as crazy projects go, Linklater could do much worse.
Was getting very worried when I hadn’t heard anything about Jenner being recast for so long. This is an excellent change.
As with the Wicked movie I’ll believe this when I am sitting down in theaters to watch it.In the meantime I’m greatly looking forward to seeing Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez in this fall’s Broadway revival of Merrily after being shut out of getting tickets to the recent off-Broadway limited run.And for Sondheim fan’s if you haven’t see the documentary Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, which is about the original production of Merrily, I highly recommend it. It’s filled with interviews with the original cast and creative team, including Sondheim and Hal Prince, as well as remarkable original footage going all the way back to the first auditions. It’s a deeply moving film.
What are the odds that Linklater or one of the main cast members of the movie dies before finish filming?
I’m having a hard time understanding why Linlater would do this again or at least why he would announce he’s doing it. Boyhood was such a singular piece of art. I don’t know. I don’t get it.Also… what the hell is with the people from Glee!?! Are there any Good stories about actors from that show. Talk about cursed after the fact.
Imagine if these abuse allegations had come, say, 10 years into this filming process rather than now? That would have made recasting a damn sight more difficult.
I mean, he’s taking a pretty big gamble that nothing bad will happen to any of them in the next 20 years (sickness/death/legal trouble/career trouble).
I don’t understand this stunt at all. You can use practical effects and CG that are pretty good now. Oh, I forgot. Linklater is a hack and needs some kind of gimmick.