Netflix sets premiere date for "The Prom"

Netflix has announced that Ryan Murphy's upcoming adaptation of the Broadway musical, The Prom, will be available to stream on December 11. 

Top billing of course for Meryl. It's prime awards placement for release as well. I think a Golden Globe nod is on the horizon, and who knows...maybe more?

New set photo from "The Prom"

Director Ryan Murphy posted a pic to Instagram today showing the cast for his upcoming adaptation of the Broadway musical, The Prom.

A lot of outlets are suggesting that Meryl is completely unrecognizable with her red hair. I'm not sure that's true, but she does look unlike the vast majority of her characters. I sort of consider the look a cross between Topsy and Miranda Priestly. 

Murphy praised the cast for having the gumption to complete the film's last bits amid the Covid crisis. But we know that there really wasn't much for the cast to do, the remaining footage was basically "second unit," per Murphy. 

We can expect the movie to hit Netflix around Christmas. 

"The Prom" likely to be released without issue

After The Prom was shut down last month due to Coronavirus concerns, it left some doubt as to whether the film would finish shooting. At the time, it sounded like the issue was that there was one final scene that took place in school with a huge group--obviously not the appropriate thing to be undertaking right now.

An article was released yesterday in which director Ryan Murphy describes how the outcome of the film really isn't in any danger, stating:

"The Prom" was pretty much all shot. We had two days of second-unit (filming) left. 

 "The Prom" was never going to come out until later in the year, 

 like Thanksgiving or Christmastime. 

 Hopefully, I'll be able to pick up those moments this summer. … 

 So, that movie wasn't really impacted by this 

 because I had already shot almost all of it."

I had to look up what "second unit" meant, and I guess it's where a second group of filmmakers work on supplementary footage like background shots, cutaways and inserts. It does not include direct filming with the main cast. I was also under the impression based on previous articles that the film was set for a third quarter release. Murphy suggests that it was always planned to be released toward the end of the year--which is good, since it now provides more time for completion. Add to that, since it's a Netflix film, there's not wide theater release to worry about getting mucked up. They only need a limited release for film awards chances. 

At least we have one piece of good news during this awful time. 

Production on "The Prom" halted due to coronavirus concerns

Deadline is reporting that due to concerns over the coronavirus, production on The Prom has been shut down for the time being. They were apparently set to wrap shooting over the next few days, but one of the last scenes was set in a high school, which was closed for health concerns.

The good news is that 1) they were close to finishing up, so not much left to shoot, and 2) the tentative plan is to resume/finish in mid April.

The way the whole planet seems to be shutting down, however, it's anyone's guess when production will continue. Regardless, I fully expect this to be released in 2020. 

The costume parade continues on the set of "The Prom"

Newest pic of Meryl on the set of The Prom:

I've probably said this before in earlier posts, but I'm getting so many Liza Minnelli vibes from her costumes and styling. 

Additional recent pics on set including Nicole Kidman and James Corden can be found here. 

Kevin Chamberlin joins "The Prom"

Multiple sources are reporting that three-time Tony Award nominee Kevin Chamberlin has joined the cast of The Prom. Chamberlin will portray publicist Sheldon Saperstein, a role which had originally been reported as being filled by Awkwafina.

I had thought recently about Awkwafina's participation int he film, as with all her publicity this awards season for her work in The Farewell, I've not heard her talk about The Prom. Her name hadn't been on the IMDb page, so not surprising that she's ultimately not in the movie after all.

Filming is currently underway, with Ryan Murphy directing. A fall 2020 release is expected on Netflix.

Jo Ellen Pellman lands lead in "The Prom"

Multiple sources are reporting that newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman has landed the role of Emma in Ryan Murphy's adaptation of The Prom for Netflix. Pellman was selected from a nation-wide search.  She's know for HBO's The Deuce, but I have to admit I'd never heard of her. A few other supporting roles were announced, rounding out the cast that is set to begin shooting in December.

I saw a Tweet or something last week that showed Nicole Kidman already in the studio recording songs. No word yet when Meryl is set to lay down her tracks. From what I've gathered, some of the vocals are going to be very challenging. 

The Prom is aiming for a release late summer 2020. 

Ariana DeBose joins "The Prom"

They've traded out one Ariana for another: Grande for DeBose. Playbill is reporting that Ariana DeBose has been cast to play "Alyssa" in the The Prom, the role for which Ariana Grande had originally been slated. Her character plays the girlfriend of the lead character, "Emma," which is yet to be cast.

I hadn't heard of DeBose prior to his news, but she got her break in 2009 on the television show So You Think You Can Dance, and was recently nominated for a Tony for her role in the the Donna Summer musical, Summer. She'll next be seen in the role of Anita in Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of West Side Story. 

Filming for The Prom is set to begin next month.

Streep to star in Ryan Murphy's "Prom"

It seemed like only a matter of time before Meryl and Ryan Murphy were able to join forces for a project. Looks like that's about to happen, as Deadline is reporting that Murphy will be producing and directing a feature film adaptation for Netflix of the Tony-nominated musical, The Prom, to be retitled simply, Prom. Streep would play the lead Dee Dee Allen and is to be joined by James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Ariana Grande, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key.

The synopsis as described by Deadline reads:

~In Prom, Streep will play Dee Dee Allen, a two-time Tony winner who teams with Corden’s Barry Glickman in a flop musical about Eleanor Roosevelt. After career-ending reviews, they decide — along with Broadway babies Kidman as Angie Dickinson and Rannells (Book of Mormon) as Trent Oliver — to champion a cause to rehabilitate their careers. They find one in Emma, a high school senior in Indiana who isn’t allowed to take her girlfriend to the prom. A nationwide search led by casting director Alexa Fogel is on to fill the role of Emma.~

This could be good! I have to admit that I had never heard of this musical. It apparently just opened last fall but was nominated for like seven Tony Awards. Streep's role will definitely be a lead performance. The cast, as expected in any Murphy project, is diverse, and this may be the first time Meryl's love interest is a person of color (Key)?

More details are sure to come in the near future, but filming is expected to get underway this December for a late 2020 release. 

Love new project announcements!

Streep, Kidman, & Murphy