Alan Menken expresses interest in a screen remake of Newsies
As acclaimed composer Alan Menken eagerly champions the forthcoming live-action rendition of The Little Mermaid, he also hints at the resurrection of his other creative works. Menken expressed a particular desire to revisit the somewhat underappreciated ‘Newsies,’ which received lukewarm reviews in its initial 1990s screen debut, even landing Menken, famed for Little Shop of Horrors, an unwanted Razzie award.
However, Menken sees an opportunity to redefine the narrative, considering ‘Newsies’ later metamorphosed into a Tony Award-winning musical. “The prospect of reimagining ‘Newsies’ for the modern screen is intriguing,” Menken muses, lamenting the technical constraints director Kenny Ortega faced in the original film. “Imagine what we could accomplish now with a heftier budget—it’d be a thrilling endeavor,” he adds, hoping to catch the attention of Disney’s decision-makers and the eager UK cast waiting in the wings.
‘Newsies’ is a musical based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, which was inspired by the real-life Newsboys’ Strike of 1899 in New York City. The musical centers around impoverished child newspaper hawkers, or “newsies,” who take on a powerful newspaper tycoon.
The original film starred Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall, and Ann-Margret, among others, but was initially a commercial and critical failure. Despite this, it gained a cult following after its home video release.
The stage adaptation of Newsies debuted in 2011 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey before moving to Broadway in 2012. The music was composed by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The stage version was a hit, winning two Tony Awards in 2012: Best Original Score for Menken and Feldman and Best Choreography for Christopher Gattelli.
The story follows Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action. With the help of the beautiful female reporter Katherine Plumber, all of New York City soon recognizes the power of “the little man.”
Still, Menken’s aspirations don’t stop there. “On a different note—and it’s not a Disney project—but wouldn’t it be fantastic to bring ‘A Bronx Tale’ to the screen?” he contemplates, suggesting Rob Marshall, director of The Little Mermaid, to helm it. The play, inspired by the ’90s film, debuted at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey in 2016, before its Broadway opening later that year.
