Fantasy tale to get musical adaptation.
Deadline is reporting that a stage musical adaptation of Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 Mexican dark fantasy tale ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ is in development with Oscar winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (‘Brokeback Mountain,’ ‘Babel’) writing the music and composer/musician/songwriter/actor Paul Williams on board to provide the lyrics.
Set in the fascist Spain of 1944, the film follows Ofelia, a girl fascinated with fairy-tales, who is sent along with her pregnant mother to live with her new stepfather, a ruthless captain of the Spanish army. During the night, she meets a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the centre of the labyrinth. He tells her she’s a princess, but must prove her royalty by surviving three gruesome tasks. If she fails, she will never prove herself to be the true princess and will never see her real father, the king, again.
Del Toro, who has been working quietly on the adaptation for the last four years, said “I admire and love Gustavo and Paul wrote the perfect album in ‘Phantom of the Paradise,’ which I have loved for decades.”
Santaolalla added, “I’m so excited about translating Guillermo’s magical vision into music and songs. I’m such a long-time fan of both Guillermo and Paul that to work on this with them is truly a dream come true.”
The adaptation will be produced by del Toro, Robert Fox and Gary Ungar.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Guillermo and the terrific creative team that we have put together to bring the wonderful film of Pan’s Labyrinth to the stage as a musical,” Fox said.