Disney Theatrical Now Gaining Steam at Making “Princess Bride” Musical

In 1987 20^th Century Fox produced a film adaptation of William Goldman’s fantasy romance novel “The Princess Bride,” with the author himself turning book to screenplay. Among the producers was Alan Horn, now chairman of Walt Disney Studios. He eventually bought stage adaptation rights to “The Princess Bride” well before the while Disney-Fox merger thing.

But it seems only after the acquisition of the relevant Fox media assets did earlier failed attempts at a “Princess Bride” musical finally gain some wind under their sails. That’s reassuring following Goldman’s passing in November 2017. Disney Theatrical has finally begun putting together a creative team for the adaptation.

For original music and lyrics, Disney is engaging the services of 2018 Tony Award winner David Yazbek (“The Band’s Visit”). In the meantime, book duties will fall to “The Drowsy Chaperone” Tony nominee Bob Martin, along with Rick Elise who already has prior experience writing a stage play for Disney.

Then again, there probably won’t be further developments following the production announcement. All three of them have Broadway musical productions either previewing or starting this season. Nevertheless, they’re prime choices by Disney to finally realize the long-stalled development of “Princess Bride” as a Broadway musical.

Disney Theatrical has good reason to be intense in its development and production efforts for 2019. This is after all the 25^th anniversary of their first musical, an adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast.” Their current Broadway musicals include “Aladdin,” “The Lion King” and the heavily anticipated recent arrival “Frozen.”