Home / Arts and Entertainment / Linklater's 20-Year Film: A Risky Cinematic Gamble
Linklater's 20-Year Film: A Risky Cinematic Gamble
12 Apr
Summary
- Filming for Merrily We Roll Along is planned to span 20 years.
- The project experienced early reshoots due to cast changes in 2021.
- The musical's reverse chronological structure suits the ambitious filming.
Filming for Richard Linklater's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along commenced in 2019 and is slated to continue for two decades. This ambitious endeavor echoes Linklater's previous 12-year project, Boyhood, but with an extended timeline.
The production encountered an unexpected challenge early on. Initially, Blake Jenner was cast as the lead, Franklin Shepard. However, following allegations against Jenner, Paul Mescal took over the role, leading to reshoots in 2021. This incident highlights the inherent risks of such a prolonged production schedule.
The story of Merrily We Roll Along, which unfolds over 20 years in reverse chronological order, is deemed by the article's author to be exceptionally well-suited for this real-time filming method. This approach aims to avoid the need for extensive makeup or digital de-aging, allowing actors to age naturally on screen.
Despite the original Broadway production in 1981 being a critical and commercial failure, this ambitious cinematic undertaking could address long-standing criticisms of the musical's confusing narrative. By filming in real-time with a consistent cast, the production might clarify the story's complex, reverse-chronological structure for audiences.
