Kenny Ortega, celebrated for his direction and choreography in the series “High School Musical” and “Descendants,” will now devote himself to a legendary theater figure: the Phantom of the Opera.
As Deadline reports, Ortega is set to direct and executive produce a young adult reimagining of Gaston Leroux’s classic fairy tale that will premiere on Disney+. The studio is optimistic about the project’s franchise potential and is aiming for a similar level of success to Descendants. The screenplay is by Giovanni M. Porta, and sources suggest that it will not be a direct adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical. It remains uncertain whether the film will feature original music or if Ortega will also take on the role of choreographer. Stay tuned to Deadline for more details.
In addition to his contributions to the aforementioned Disney projects, Ortega has an extensive background that includes work on Dirty Dancing, Hocus Pocus, Newsies, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. His most recent project was the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms.
The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a mysterious masked figure at the Paris Opera and has inspired many adaptations for stage and screen. Most notably, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version closed on Broadway in April 2023, after an impressive 35 years at the Majestic Theatre. Directed by Hal Prince, this production received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor for Michael Crawford, and set several records during its run. It is widely considered one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history.
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