A musical adaptation of Bridget Jones’s Diary is still in the works, according to novelist Helen Fielding.
Speaking on This Morning to discuss the upcoming Bridget Jones’s Baby, which arrives in cinemas on September 16, the author confirmed that the stage production will arrive in London’s West End ‘in the next few years.’
Our response?
‘We have done quite a lot of work on the musical, and in workshops,’ she said. ‘With musicals, everyone comes together and then they flutter off again!’
The production has reportedly been in the works since 2009, when Eric Fellner, co-chairman of Working Title (the company behind all three Bridget Jones movies) confirmed that a contract had been signed with Fielding. At the time, he revealed, ‘we’re very excited with what we’ve seen so far, but it’s such early days. We’re working very closely with Helen.’
In 2010, singer Lily Allen came on board to fulfil song writing duties (so we can expect an original score, rather than a jukebox musical), but has reportedly since left the project.
‘I’m really excited about a musical. It depends on whether the theatre is available. It’s very spontaneous [but it will be] in the next few years,’ Fielding added, before revealing that she is still fine-tuning the script.
When questioned by co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about the possibility of a fourth Bridget film, Fielding didn’t rule out a return – but maintained that she would need to find a new story to tell. ‘I think it has to have integrity […] I have to wait to have a story to tell and something to say, otherwise people won’t believe in her,’ she said.
Let’s just hope that the musical is more Legally Blonde than Viva Forever – and that the producers manage to bag the rights to ‘All By Myself’…
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