Movieline

Commercial Vet Michael Gracey to Direct Hugh Jackman's Barnum Biopic

Did you need another circus movie? Good. Because Michael Gracey -- a commercial/VFX veteran who just signed on to helm the Snow White picture The Order of the Seven -- will direct Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman on Earth, a musical biopic of 19th century circus master P.T. Barnum written by Sex and the City scribe Jenny Bicks. Hopefully it will redeem the recent misfire Water for Elephants and 1952's The Greatest Show on Earth, which remains the most dubious Best Picture winner of all time. Jackman's Boy from Oz zest is perfect for the role, so I suspect he'll keep the movie from becoming another third-ring sideshow. (Ding!) [Variety]