As long as he needs him! Two-time Tony winner Matthew Bourne has been tapped by mega-producer Cameron Mackintosh to work on his previously reported new screen adaptation of Oliver! “There’s also a film of Oliver! in the pipeline,” the British director and choreographer revealed about his future projects to The Guardian. “Cameron Mackintosh is hoping to follow up Les Miserables with Oliver!"
Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. The tuner premiered in the West End in 1960 and has been revived in London multiple times; the show opened on Broadway in 1963, winning three Tonys, including Best Composer and Lyricist for Bart. It was last seen on the Great White Way in 1984. The 1968 film adaptation won six Oscars, including Best Picture. The show features classic such as “Food, Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” "I'd Do Anything" and “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.”
Bourne won Tonys for both his direction and choreography for Swan Lake. He was also nominated for Mary Poppins. Other stage credits include Oliver!, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Play Without Words, Nutcracker!, Highland Fling, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands, Dorian Gray and Sleeping Beauty. Mackintosh, who produced shows including Cats, Saigon, Phantom and Les Miz, was behind the latter's 2012 adaptation to the big screen.