"'FOSSE/VERDON' COMING TO FX"

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Today the FX network announced that they will soon begin production on an eight-episode series, "Fosse/Verdon", about the relationship between Tony, Emmy and Oscar winner Bob Fosse and his wife Gwen Verdon.  Oscar winner Sam Rockwell will play Fosse and Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will play Verdon and will be created by "Hamilton" and "In the Heights" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.  No air date has been announced.

[LizzieCurry]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lin-manuel-miranda-michelle-williams-sam-rockwell-team-bob-fosse-series-at-fx-1129609

[KFC1991]

I assumed this would be another season of Feud, lol.
I Definitely didn't expect this. Very exciting. This will certainly be a different direction for Lin.

[¿Macavity?]

I’m very curious/excited to see how this goes, but I don’t want to let my hopes get too high up.

[ACL2006]

Very curious to see this.

[Tag]

LOL
Who's going to be interested in watching this, besides us?

[TotallyEffed]

This is both bizarre and thrilling.

[Steve C.]

I think Tag is right; who besides us? But that's what makes me wonder about how popular shows like "RuPaul" are and can be...I thought the Versace was very good, (especially Judith Light!) and the POSE show with Billy Porter...but...I don't and won't watch us become "car crash" tv...it's like honey boo-boo or  the a&e (A & E ..go figure ??)   crap tv. When does it become "are they laughing at us or "with" us or just "against" us?? It's Ryan Murphy so for now, I hope it's sincere..

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Ryan Murphy has nothing to do with this series, he now has a development deal with Netflix.  I commend FX for findng appropriate replacement programming and not just rolling over because there is nothing new from Murphy, except for "American Horror Story", "Feud" and "American Crime Story".  I think that this series will introduce a whole new generation to Bob Fosse, who being the Broadway pioneer that he was, deserves this.

[nasty_khakis]

No offense meant, but based on this casting we can assume we won't see much...dancing, right?

[BroadwayNYC2]

I've been wanting a FOSSE biopic for years. Was dreaming of a Fincher-directed film, but this will do. 

[CindersGolightly]

Michelle Williams is a terrific, dynamic dancer. I just hope we’ll get to hear her sing.

So excited about this.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Alison Williams will play Ann Reinking.  (per Michael Musto)

[Stephen75]

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Alison Williams will play Ann Reinking. (per Michael Musto)"

Where did he say that? 

[VintageSnarker]

nasty_khakis said: "No offense meant, but based on this casting we can assume we won't see much...dancing, right?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB7Vb2_QpA0

I've never been a fan of hers and I hated Fool For Love but admittedly I haven't seen much of their work so this could be fine. At least on FX it probably won't look cheap.

[Demitri2]

Ah, the old Williams and Williams duo! Better than Michele and Rumor. Seriously, I'm thrilled about this news. Just hope they keep it truthful. I think it could be a very bittersweet love story. I never recall either one throwing shade on the other unless I'm mistaken. IIRC, they never divorced.




 

[theaterdarling]

nasty_khakis said: "No offense meant, but based on this casting we can assume we won't see much...dancing, right?"

Don't know if you are old enough to remember that Fosse chose the fabulous Roy Scheider ( who was not a dancer though light on his feet due to his amateur boxing training)  to play his alter-ego, Joe Gideon, in Fosse's semi-autobiographical "All That Jazz" (one of the greatest movies of all time). Although the scenes where Scheider actually danced did not make up a majority of the movie, Scheider trained and handled the dancing segments quite credibly, Ut clearly made sense for Fosse to go with someone with the stronger acting chops who you could train to dance. So, take heart, like Scheider, Rockwell is a pretty intense, immersive actor, and the type who will, no doubt, get the dancing right.

[IdinaBellFoster]

This is very exciting news.

[BobbyBubby]

I have to cancel mnend FX, a network that used to be aimed at straight white men, for the bold programming they’ve been presenting. With the people attached to the project, I’m sure many non theatre people will watch this. Pose, Feud: Bette and Joan, and Versace have all presenting subjects that the general public may not know about. Kudos to them. This is a great idea for a limited series. Very excited.

[SomethingPeculiar]

I can't wait to see who else is cast in this and what other real-life characters will be featured. There could be great casting opportunities for theatre stars as some of the other people in Fosse's life. And we'll obviously get to hear some Kander & Ebb songs!

If this is successful, I hope Ryan Murphy will consider going ahead with one of his abandoned FEUD ideas, which he said in an interview was the battle between Dreamgirls and Nine. (And I know the Fosse project is not a Ryan Murphy show!)

[BJR]

I am so thrilled for this. That book is incredible and is ripe for dramatization.

I think Lin being in involved should garner it some attention, not to mention to A-List movie stars.

[BWAY Baby2]

Great news- and there will have to be plenty of dancing. Fosse was a choreographic genius. I am old enough to have seen Gwen In Sweet Charity- and Chicago with Liza- and have always been blown out by the power and beauty of his style. He was a master. Could be great tv- and I hope it will be popular, though- because these names are hardly household at this point. 

[TheSassySam]

F/X is coming for Bravo and Logo as the gayest cable network. 

[Valentina3]

BWAY Baby2 said: "I hope it will be popular, though- because these names are hardly household at this point."

Luckily, Williams and Miranda are - so I have a feeling their name recognition will take this through. I want a Michael Bennett series too. 

 

[KFC1991]

And Sam Rockwell just won an Oscar, so this should get major award consideration.