Hugh Jackman to Ride a "Carousel" to the Screen

By Andrew Gans
August 2, 2006

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman — currently on screens around the country in Woody Allen's "Scoop" — will likely star in a remake of the 1956 film "Carousel," which was based on the 1945 Broadway musical.

Variety reports that Fox 2000 plans to remake the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical with Jackman as Billy Bigelow, the role created onstage by John Raitt and on screen by Gordon MacRae. Jackman, according to the industry paper, will produce the film with John Palermo, his Seeds Productions partner. Fox 2000 is currently in negotiations with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization to secure the rights to the R&H score.

Jackman previously performed the role of Bigelow — the carnival barker who, following his death, is allowed one day to return to earth to fix the problems he created — in a 2002 concert at Carnegie Hall that also featured four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as Julie Jordan.

Carousel bowed on Broadway in April 1945 at the Majestic Theatre, where it played 890 performances. The original cast included John Raitt and Jan Clayton. The 1956 Fox film co-starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. The celebrated score includes such tunes as "June Is Bustin' Out All Over," "Mister Snow," "Soliloquy," "What's the Use of Wond'rin'?" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Hugh Jackman received a Tony Award for his portrayal of the late Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. He received an Olivier Award nomination for his work in the London revival of Oklahoma! and an MO Award for his performance as Joe Gillis in the Australian production of Sunset Boulevard. Jackman's film credits include the current "Scoop" as well as "The X-Men," "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "Kate and Leopold" (Golden Globe nomination) and "Van Helsing."

Jackman is currently back in his native Australia, where he will begin a limited run in The Boy From Oz Aug. 3. He and business partner Palermo are also opening an office in Sydney to "hatch modestly budgeted Fox-financed productions in Australia," according to Variety.