New ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ movie coming to big screen, with ‘Hamilton’ power
MGM Studios to produce remake of musical, first put on stage in 1964; film will be directed by Thomas Kail of Broadway hit ‘Hamilton’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleBen Sales is a news editor at The Times of Israel
JTA — Wonder of wonders: “Fiddler on the Roof” is returning to the big screen.
MGM Studios will produce a remake of the iconic 1964 musical about the struggles and joys of Jewish life in the fictional Eastern European shtetl of Anatevka, according to Deadline.
The new film will bring some star power from Broadway: Director Thomas Kail also directed stage hit “Hamilton” and has collaborated with its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda (famously a “Fiddler” fan), on other shows.
Steven Levenson, who wrote the acclaimed musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” will pen the screenplay.
The remake will be carrying on a tradition of more than 50 years.
“Fiddler” first had audiences saying “L’chaim” when it opened on Broadway in 1964 starring Zero Mostel as Tevye; it won nine Tonys. It saw many sunrises and sunsets, at one time holding the record for longest-running Broadway musical at nearly 10 years.
Israel’s Chaim Topol starred in London’s 1967 production. The movie version, also with Topol, came out in 1971 and garnered three Oscars, as well as nominations for best actor for Topol and best picture.
Broadway brought back another revival in 2015, and a Yiddish-language “Fiddler” ran off-Broadway until this year.
The Times of Israel Community.