Neil Meron Talks PETER PAN LIVE! & Oscars 2015 Host Neil Patrick Harris

By: Oct. 23, 2014
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Academy Award-winning producer Neil Meron talks PETER PAN LIVE! and more!

"You know, the challenge of live TV is always, always a little bit daunting. PETER PAN has a particular challenge because we are going to use live flying and anything can happen," Meron asserts in a new interview.

"In terms of SOUND OF MUSIC, all we had to worry about whether she was going to fall down the mountain," Meron humorously adds.

Discussing the casting of Allison Williams and his reaction to her initial audition, Meron says, "We were preparing to cast this other movie that we were doing... and she auditioned for us, and it was also a musical. And, we went, 'Wow!'"

"We told her agent, 'One way or another, we want to work with her because we think she is great,'" Meron remembers.

As for Christopher Walken, Meron states, "It makes perfect sense: Chris has an incredible background in musical theatre... He did HAIRSPRAY for us and he was absolutely great. So, we kind of thought, 'If we want to reinvent Captain Hook, it has to be Chris.'"

Also, Meron says of newly announced Oscars 2015 host Neil Patrick Harris, "He's going to be just great!"

The official description of NBC's PETER PAN: LIVE! is as follows: "Preparing to sprinkle fairy dust across America, NBC presents a bold new LIVE television version of the classic Broadway musical that will gather friends, families and anyone who refuses to ever grow up. Following in the footsteps of the phenomenally successful THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! - which drew over 18 million viewers - comes this musical masterpiece that tells the beloved story of Peter Pan, the mischievous little boy who ran away to Neverland. Get ready for show-stopping stars, stunning costumes, extravagant sets and delightful music that will have everyone in your home singing along. From Executive Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron comes a soaring LIVE three-hour holiday event guaranteed to take viewers on a magical and musical journey to the second star to the right."

PETER PAN LIVE! is set to air on NBC on December 4.

More information on Peter Pan Live! is available at the official site here.

View the new clip of Neil Meron discussing PETER PAN LIVE! below.

Photo Credit: Twitter



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