Moulin Rouge! The Musical is finally in development

It has officially been announced today that Moulin Rouge! The Musical is in development. The groundbreaking 2001 Oscar-winning movie musical, directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, will be adapted for the stage with a book by Tony winner John Logan. Three-time Tony-nominated director Alex Timbers has also been enlisted to helm the production.

Baz Luhrmann released the following statement:

"I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' and the brilliance of 'Here Lies Love.' I immediately recognized the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts. So I'm tremendously happy to celebrate that Moulin Rouge! will be under his direction and that the book will be the creation of the gifted Tony Award-winning playwright John Logan whose writing I also admire deeply. It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm."

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is in development at the Australian-based production company Global Creatures, in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox. The company is responsible for the large-scale productions of King Kong (which celebrated its world premiere at Melbourne's Regent Theatre on 15 June 2013), the international live arena tours of Walking with Dinosaurs and How To Train Your Dragon (a co-production with DreamWorks Theatricals) and the 2013 Australian tour of War Horse (a co-production with the National Theatre of Great Britain). Most recently, Global Creatures partnered with Baz Luhrmann's Bazmark production company to stage Strictly Ballroom The Musical, based on Luhrmann's 1992 hit Australian film. The world premiere was staged at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on 12 April 2014. The UK premiere of Strictly Ballroom The Musical will officially open at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 6 Decmeber 2016.

Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of Global Creatures, commented:

"Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin are so special to Global Creatures and I'm thrilled that we have the opportunity to partner with them once again to bring their ground-breaking work to the stage. Moulin Rouge! is a film begging to be theatricalized. I can think of no better creative collaborators than Alex Timbers and John Logan to realise this new musical. We are also delighted to be partnering with Twentieth Century Fox and Moulin Rouge in this hugely exciting venture."

Synopsis: "Moulin Rouge! The Musical tells the story of a young poet/writer, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine using the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France."

It is unclear at this time whether the world premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be staged in Australia or on Broadway or in London's West End, however, as an opening venue, dates and casting will be announced at a later date.

The 2001 movie has grossed over $179 million worldwide and earned Catherine Martin two Oscars (Best Costume Design and Best Production Design) at the 74th Academy Awards, where it received a further six nominations, including Best Picture. The jukebox musical starred Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGreggor and Jim Broadbent, along with John Leguizamo and Richard Roxburgh, and featured versions of popular songs such as "Lady Marmalade," "Material Girl," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "One Day I'll Fly Away," "Roxanne," and "Your Song," as well as original song "Come What May."