The Spring Awakening Movie: What We Know
There’s been a lot of talk about the Spring Awakening movie on Tumblr recently. I thought I’d put together a post sharing all the info I’ve encountered about the movie (if you come across any other articles or videos or anything about it in your online travels, do consider submitting links to my rather neglected fansite, where I’m trying to keep accessible records of this stuff.)
2009:
Steven Sater said that there was “100% going to be a Spring Awakening movie” but he was “learning that it takes a while.”
2010:
Steven Sater said he hoped to film Spring Awakening in spring of 2011, which clearly didn’t happen. He said that casting would be “an international process” and that when casting the stage musical they considered both a cast of younger teens and a cast of older teens but ultimately went with the latter, and that “the same issue arises for the movie.”
Director McG said that he has to do Spring Awakening “if it’s the last thing I do,” and that he loves the “timelessness” of it. When asked if he’d cast anyone from the OBC he said that Lea Michele is “the greatest” but “it’s important that the fundamental buy-in of that story is that the girl doesn’t know where babies come from” so her age would be a concern.
Meanwhile, Duncan Sheik said there was “no chance” of any of the OBC making it into the movie because they wouldn’t look young enough. He explained that McG was “adamant” to direct the film, and his desire to shoot on location, focus on the performances, and claims that he could make the film look “high budget for less” won them over.
2011:
Jonathan Groff was asked about the film and said, “I would love to but I’m afraid I’m too old.”
2012:
Various sites said that Lea Michele is in talks to play Wendla in the film, but then Lea’s rep clarified to EW that though she’s discussed doing it in the past, there’s nothing really new happening with that.
McG said he will make Spring Awakening “sooner or later” because it’s his “passion project” and that he intends to do a “Baz Lurhmann” take on it.
