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Entertainment

23rd Feb 2019

A sequel to The Greatest Showman is in the works and we need a second

Keeley Ryan

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you’ve waited for.

A sequel to The Greatest Showman is in the works – according to none other than the film’s director.

The so-catchy-you-can’t-help-but-sing-along musical was originally released around Christmas 2017, before it went on to get nominated at the Oscars – and just became an all-around box office hit.

Starring Hugh Jackman alongside Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams, the movie detailed the life and business ventures of PT Barnum – America’s (you guessed it) greatest showman.

After its release in December, the movie made more than €1 million every week until March – and more than €435 million to date and held tough in box offices around the globe well into April and May last year.

It is now the third highest grossing musical in history – and has sparked plenty of rumours of a possible sequel (and a broadway musical).

And after Jackman reprised his role as Barnum for the opening of the Brit Awards earlier this week, it became clearer than ever that fans just can’t get enough.

Which is why we were particularly excited when director Michael Gracey told The Sun that “discussions have started” for a sequel to The Greatest Showman 2. 

Hugh Jackman is expected to return for the highly-anticipated musical.

He added:

“When a movie becomes as big a success as this, it’s only natural there is demand for a sequel.

“So those discussions have started and we are working on one right now.”

It’s not clear if the movie would be a prequel or if it would follow on from the first movie, or even when it would actually hit cinema screens (after all, it took eight years to make the original).

Either way, we already can’t wait to see it.

It comes as Jackman recently said he would “get the top hat back out” again if the right story for a sequel to the musical came along.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said:

“If a genuine opportunity came up where it felt like the right thing to do, then yep, I’d get the top hat back out.”

However, Jackman did note that seeing as the company that produced The Greatest Showman, 21st Century Fox, is in the process of being bought by Disney, he isn’t too sure whether a sequel is on anyone’s radar at the moment.

He added:

“I’m not sure what they would do, but it did take a while to get the first one up, and it’s not to be underestimated how difficult it is to get a musical up and going.

“But it’s clear to me and to everyone that people love these characters. I loved this movie, I loved this character and it was one of the great joys of my life.”