Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
#1Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 11:16am
A new adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof -- to be helmed by Thomas Kail -- was announced on May 28, 2020.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Thomas-Kail-to-Direct-FIDDLER-ON-THE-ROOF-Film-Adaptation-with-Steven-Levenson-Writing-the-Script-20200528
Wondering if this still happening. No recent updates on IMDb.
Jan Lisa Huttner
#2Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 11:48am
Was wondering recently about this too. I remember when Josh Gad posted an audition video, but I wasn’t a fan of the vocals.
#3Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 11:54am
Josh Gad? Audition? For which part? A bit young to play Tevye. "Right? Of course, right."
Jan Lisa Huttner
#4Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 12:01pm
Pretty sure Topol was younger than Gad is now when he made the film.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#5Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 12:12pm
Yes, Topol was 35 while filming the movie. Josh Gad is currently 41.
Also, keep in mind that Tevye and Golde are really only in their early 40s. In "Do You Love Me?" they mention being married 25 years, and they would have probably married around 18 (remember Golde is concerned because Tzeitel is almost 20 and not married yet).
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#6Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 12:43pm
I suspect that Josh Gad wouldn’t have the gravitas to play Tevye.
#7Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 12:48pm
AEA AGMA SM said: "Yes, Topol was 35 while filming the movie. Josh Gad is currently 41.
Also, keep in mind that Tevye and Golde are really only in their early 40s. In "Do You Love Me?" they mention being married 25 years, and they would have probably married around 18 (remember Golde is concerned because Tzeitel is almost 20 and not married yet)."
Sure, but I think believable storytelling has to be taken into account.
I’ve mentioned this before, but I always think of an anecdote told to me by a film acting teacher I had: during a shoot they used real toast, but the director said it didn’t look “toasty” enough. So they had to artificially make it look more “toasty” so that it would read to the audience - even though they were actually using real-life toast.
The lesson: more realistic does not always mean more believable, from an audience/storytelling perspective.
Josh Gad may be 41, but he doesn’t read as old as Tevye reads. Especially since “41" doesn’t necessarily look the same today as it did in 1905, or even 1971 for that matter (also, I’d argue that Topol looked/read significantly older than he actually was, which is partly why he pulled it off).
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 7/28/22 at 1:04pm
I have the reverse situation:
The on-again-off-again "The Spirituality of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" project I've been involved with for a few years is on again. I'll be playing Tevye in his monologues and songs in this event, while a priest discusses the religious aspects of the musical. As I'll be 75 real soon and my hair is now white, I'm hoping that with the help of Just For Men I'll be convincing as a father and not a grandfather..
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#9Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 1/22/24 at 4:53pm
Is this still happening?
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Ke3
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/20
#10Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 1/22/24 at 5:17pm
In the year and half to two year span before it was sold to Amazon, MGM greenlit a ton of projects. Many of them would have mined IP from their vault. My thinking is this was done partially as advertising. "Look what you'll get if you buy us!" I don't think any of the projects they announced will actually happen. Especially because Abdy and De Luca (the excuctives in charge at the time) left for WB + Amazon has completely restructured their Hollywood operations. They're reigning in their "we can afford to spend whatever" attitude.
#11Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 1/22/24 at 5:28pm
Well, alas, all mention of it has vanished completely from Thomas Kail's IMDb page (see link below), so Ke3's explanation sounds likely. I am very sad because IMHO *Fiddler on the Roof* really needs an onscreen update. (I have never been a fan of the film. I think Topol was badly miscast -- albeit very good on stage in his later years -- and Jewison violated the spirit of the Robbins version, mostly especially with respect to the Yente character. All of this is discussed in considerable detail in my book *Diamond Fiddler: New Traditions for a New Millennium*.) Alas! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2371802/?
Jan Lisa Huttner
Updated On: 1/22/24 at 05:28 PM
#12Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 1/22/24 at 8:28pm
I'm not especially a Topol fan, but the ship has long since sailed on getting Zero Mostel in a movie version.
So for me, Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish is the movie version I want to see.
#13Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 1/22/24 at 10:31pm
Norman Jewison, who directed FIDDLER ON THE ROOF for the screen, has passed away at age 97.
i mention it as I think it is one of the best Broadway-to-Film adaptations ever. The movie still works and I think it was perfect in its execution. I still watch it every year or so.
Azúcar!
Stand-by Joined: 11/6/21
#14Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 6:35pm
Is the Thomas Kail film production still happening? This talk about the new Guys and Dolls just brings to mind so many film and stage projects that get big announcements and then.. nothing. I think the world could use a new filmed production of Fiddler. Which is different than what I felt when this was first announced.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#15Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 6:59pm
I think you are right. I wouldn't mind knowing that there is a new Fiddler movie on its way. Nothing will touch the original film production. To me it is perfection. But is a good time for this story of prejudice, tradition, family and humanity to try and reach and comfort more people. Is this still happening? I think someone had said it is for max?
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ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#16Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 7:03pm
Ke3 said: "In the year and half to two year span before it was sold to Amazon, MGM greenlit a ton of projects. Many of them would have mined IP from their vault. My thinking is this was done partially as advertising. "Look what you'll get if you buy us!" I don't think any of the projects they announced will actually happen."
I think this answers the question.
Kail is not a hot film director, and I can think of very few legitimately famous film stars who would be right for Tevye.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#17Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 7:09pm
That is too bad. But I wouldn't think they would need a legitimate famous film star at all. And not sure then why such specific press release with Thomas Kail's name announced would have been released.
I just reread the release and I am afraid you might be right. It is after all MGM.
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Updated On: 9/24/24 at 07:09 PM
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#18Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 7:35pm
DAME said: "That is too bad. But I wouldn't think they would need a legitimatefamous film star at all. And not sure then why such specific press release with Thomas Kail's name announced would have been released.
I just reread the release and I am afraid you might be right. It is after all MGM."
A musical film must have a star to get funding and attract an audience. There isn't a single live action film on this top 25 list that didn't have a star. And in this case if that star is not a Jew, there would be a whole lot of screaming that no studio wants to deal with. FIDDLER's not going to sell on its own.
They put out a press release with Kail's name because he was signed on, pre-Amazon MGM probably paid him a little money, and for a short time the project might have seemed real before it became not-real. And MGM wanted to have a bunch of projects in the hopper while they were trying to get sold.
Probably better off leaving FIDDLER alone.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#19Is Thomas Kail still working on Fiddler on the Roof?
Posted: 9/24/24 at 8:15pm
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "DAME said: "That is too bad. But I wouldn't think they would need a legitimatefamous film star at all. And not sure then why such specific press release with Thomas Kail's name announced would have been released.
I just reread the release and I am afraid you might be right. It is after all MGM."
A musical film musthave a star to get funding and attract an audience. There isn't a single live action film on this top 25 list that didn't have a star.And in this case if that star is not a Jew, there would be a whole lot of screaming that no studio wants to deal with. FIDDLER's not going to sell on its own.
They put out a press release with Kail's name because he was signed on, pre-Amazon MGM probably paid him a little money, and for a short time the project might have seemed real before it became not-real. And MGM wanted to have a bunch of projects in the hopper while they were trying to get sold.
Probably better off leaving FIDDLER alone."
Sad
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