Fox Announces That 'Rent' Will Be Their Next Live Musical

Hold onto your seats, everyone! Fox just announced it will be bringing ‘Rent’ to television!

Following prolonged negotiations, the classic musical has been set as Fox’s next live production since last year’s ‘Grease Live!’ Marc Platt – responsible for hits like ‘La La Land’ and ‘Wicked’–, will executive-produce the show alongside the estate of Jonathan Larson, the writer, and composer of the musical.

“We are so honored to partner with the estate of the brilliant Jonathan Larson and producer Marc Platt on one of the great musicals of our time,” said Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Fox Television Group chairmen and CEOs, in a statement. “The title is so iconic, the music is so beloved, and the themes are as meaningful today as they were when the show first premiered on Broadway. With Marc overseeing this project, we are sure it will have a profound impact on the legions of fans who know and love this musical.”

The rock musical follows the story of seven artists struggling to survive and make it in New York City’s East Village during a time of great social and political turmoil, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The show is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera ‘La Bohème.’ The Grammy-, Tony-, and -Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was premiered on Broadway in 1996.

‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ is also in the works

Moments before ‘Rent Live!’ was announced, Fox shared other great news: ‘A Christmas Story’ – the Tony winner Broadway musical based on the 1983 Christmas comedy – will arrive in form of a three-hour live musical to the network in December.

Image Credit: Sara Krulwich / The New York Times

Platt will serve as executive producer of this show, too. It was revealed that the musical will feature new music from the team behind ‘La La Land’ and Oscar winners for “City of Stars” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who adapted the film for the Broadway stage. ‘Grease Live!’ veterans Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary are adapting the book.
“‘A Christmas Story’ is one of the most beloved holiday films of all time – audiences have made a yearly ritual of re-watching it – and we are so thrilled to have Marc leading the charge in bringing the musical version of that film to television,” Fox Broadcasting entertainment president David Madden said in a statement. “The extraordinarily gifted Pasek and Paul were instrumental in transposing the movie to the stage, and we believe the transition to live television event will be just as entertaining for viewers.”