Phantom sequel provisionally set for 2009
SIR ANDREW Lloyd Webber has been talking to WENN (World Entertainment News) about his much-anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.
The story, which is set on New York’s Coney Island, is written but still far from ready for production. As he explained to WENN:
“We haven’t even got a working title for it yet. The actual story’s written; most of the individual songs are written. It’s not going to be complete as a piece of writing ‘til late autumn, early winter because I’ve got so much other work going on all the time. It’s difficult finding the time to finish it.”
Those work commitments have included the reality TV shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, as well as the forthcoming I’d Do Anything, which will be looking for two new stars for the musical Oliver!
Lloyd Webber is also appearing in three episodes of Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, in a storyline that ties-in with Summer Strallen taking over the role of Maria in The Sound of Music.
However, 2009 seems a likely date for the Phantom sequel to premiere, for as Lloyd Webber further explained: “My plan is that it will either get produced in the summer next year or probably more likely autumn next year. It also all depends on theatre availability.”