The Greatest Showman is now playing in cinemas, and it’s so far been on the receiving end of pretty mixed reviews.
A new story over at Variety, meanwhile, has suggested that 20th Century Fox reportedly hired Hugh Jackman’s friend and frequent collaborator, James Mangold, to direct a week of reshoots, as well as oversee some of the editing and post-production process.
According to the report, Mangold was paid a seven-figure amount and brought in to direct reshoots because the studio felt that The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey had become “overwhelmed with the scope of the picture.” This apparently extended to the post-production process, as the studio determined Gracey also needed “assistance” in the editing bay.
For the record, Gracey has a long history of shooting commercials and has been planning a musical about P.T. Barnum with Hugh Jackman for years. He also has been tapped to direct a Naruto movie. Further, a source close to Fox has suggested that Mangold’s role was solely in an advisory role. However, getting an ‘executive producer’ credit and up to seven figures on an $84-million budgeted musical might suggest quite a bit of advice.
It would make sense for the studio to turn to Mangold if The Greatest Showman needed help. Mangold and Jackman have developed quite a rapport after working on both The Wolverine and Logan together. Further, while Mangold is primarily known now for his grittier action-dramas like Logan and 3:10 to Yuma, he also has experience in musical-adjacent filmmaking, having directed the Oscar winning Walk The Line in 2005.
The film is playing now in the US, and arrives in the UK on Boxing Day.