The Greatest Showman star horrified at idea of a sequel: ‘No, stop that!’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Not everyone is so keen on a second Greatest Showman movie (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

There’s nothing most of us would love more than a sequel to The Greatest Showman. Alas, one of its biggest stars is horrified that anyone would even suggest such a thing.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya, the movie musical was released in 2017 and achieved astronomical success.

The Michael Gracey-directed flick tells a fictionalised version of P. T. Barnum’s life story, following the entertainer on his journey to creating the circus extravaganzas we still have today, with star attractions.

It grossed $459million (£362m) at the box office and, in just seven years, has become a firm favourite in households around the world, with a stage adaptation currently in the works.

Despite its devout fanbase, though, actress Rebecca Ferguson has firmly shut down any chance of reprising her role for a second movie.

The 41-year-old star starred as Jenny Lind, the glamorous opera singer with whom Barnum tours after he abandons his circus.

The musical starring Hugh Jackman rocketed to success following its release in 2017 (Picture: Ntavernise/20thcentury Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Rebecca Ferguson starred as opera singer Jenny Lind (Picture: 20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

When Collider merely suggested the idea of a Greatest Showman sequel, she declared: ‘No! Stop that. Come on!’

‘Sometimes things should just be left,’ she stated.

Ferguson added that she would also feel ‘jealous’ should the musical get a sequel.

‘I feel like my character was kind of cast aside. I’ll come back as a juggler.’

Reports of a possible Greatest Showman 2 first surfaced in September 2019, when a sequel was said to already be in development.

It was claimed that Jackman was keen to reprise his lead role, but the project hit a barrier when Disney chose to end a distribution deal for Chernin Entertainment’s films by 20th Century Fox in early 2020.

The Australian Wolverine star is still on board, though, as he expressed in September 2022.

She was horrified when the idea of a sequel was suggested (Picture: 20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

A stage adaptation of the film is currently in the works (Picture: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA/REX/Shutterstock)

At the time, he said that he would return to the project if both companies could come to an agreement.

He also said two years ago to People magazine: ‘I’m always open if they come up with a good idea. Yeah, I’m open.’

This was far from the first time he’s vocalised his backing for another outing, as Jackman told E! News previously that he ‘loved everything about’ working on the film.

In the joint interview with Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Ryan Reynolds, the actor was asked in jest: ‘What are you so afraid [of]? Give us a sequel! My kids want it even!’

Jackman replied: ‘If I say no or yes or anything, no one believes me anymore. I said I was never playing Wolverine again. So, whatever.’

He’s not the only one to show eagerness for a sequel, as High School Musical star Efron has also thrown his hat into the ring.

‘Hugh is working on all sorts of things, including a one-man show. What’s next? I don’t know, but I hope there is a sequel,’ he said in 2019.

In the meantime, as of August 2024, the Disney Theatrical Group is developing a stage musical version of the film, making it the company’s first stage adaptation of a 20th Century Fox film.

The company said in a statement at the time: ‘The stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, featuring the Academy Award-nominated songs of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, will announce production timetable, creative team, and cast at a later date.’

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