Originally expected to flop after poor reviews from the critics, The Greatest Showman was an unprecedented smash hit. Last week Jackman performed The Greatest Showman’s opening song at the BRIT awards, and the film’s director was in London to support his star. Gracey, whose directorial debut was the movie musical, has now teased a sequel is in the works. Speaking with The Sun, the director said: “When a movie becomes as big a success as this, it’s only natural there is demand for a sequel.”
Jackman added: “When we were putting this together, we workshopped it like we would be a Broadway show.
“So I’ve been in rooms several times doing the material and I know it works. My theatrical bones know that that would work.”
While on a movie sequel, the 50-year-old told the BBC last week: “For an actor, I’m a bad liar… I have heard talk about it. But I don’t know.”
So what would The Greatest Showman 2 look like?
Fans will remember the film ended with Jackman’s PT Barnum opening his show in an open-air tent, establishing the modern circus.
However he decides to hand over the rights to Efron’s Phil Carlyle, so he can focus on his family.
Since The Greatest Showman is only loosely based on history, a sequel could be easy to manifest.
Assuming the first film was set around the 1860s, a follow-up could focus on the new tent circus, with Jackman returning to his roots.