Greatest Showman MUSICAL news from Cannes: Hugh Jackman says 'Our show works best LIVE'

The musical movie has been the shock smash of the last six months.

Poor early reviews and a slow start at cinemas were transformed when the soundtrack became an international sensation.

Five months later and it has just returned to the top of the UK album charts this weekend, its remarkable fifteenth week at Number One. It is the biggest album of the year and confirms just how much the fans love songs like Keatle Settle’s showstopping This Is Me, Rewrite The Stars, The Greatest Show and Never Enough.

Industry big wigs are now realising that fans will flock to a stage version to see their favourite songs performed live and major Broadway plans are underway. 

Recently leading man Jackman, who played PT Barnum, said: “We were talking about a live version of the show even before [the movie] came out.

“There was a discussion at one point in the eight-year journey of this movie of maybe going live first…

“When Keala Settle got up, stood in the middle of a room and sang This Is Me with no makeup, no nothing, no anything, there was not a dry eye in the house. The musical really works live.”

Word is coming from the Cannes Film Festival of what comes next.

The latest reports from the international festival say that Broadway and West End plans are now the priority, rather than any big screen sequel.

Talking about the idea of a major stage version, Benj Pasek, who co-wrote The Greatest Showman’s songs said: “We’re really thinking about whatever else could happen with this piece and with these songs, these performances.

“How can we get it to those people who have championed it and who have, in a way, made it theirs? How can we give something else back to them?”

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN INCREDIBLE LIVE VERSION OF NEVER ENOUGH BY THE ORIGINAL SINGER

The entire journey to the big screen was a passion and personal project for Jackman from the beginning.

His star power convinced the doubters and it is impossible to imagine a stage version without him.

However musicals are notoriously punishing, with eight shows a week. If the 49-year-old star does hit the boards it is likely he would only take on a limited opening run. Eager fans should keep ears and eyes peeled for further news.

With or without Hugh, sadly UK fans will probably have to wait while the show opens first on Broadway.