Thomas Kail is here to prove he’s not a one trick pony: he’s making the leap from the Broadway stage to the big screen. After his flawless victory in directing the Tony Awards-sweeping musical Hamilton, Kail’s next big project is to bring another musical back to the cinema: Fiddler On The Roof, which has already been made into a film in 1971.
Fiddler On The Roof is the story of a Russian peasant named Tevye, who is the father of five daughters, in a time of social upset and ethnic tension. The musical highlights Jewish culture and the number “If I Were A Rich Man,” sung by Tevye, is well known in the Broadway community.
The 1971 film earned director Norman Jewison Oscar nominations for both Best Picture and Best Director, so Kail has big shoes to fill. Fiddler On The Roof could be a significant cultural film in the current political and social climate. But clearly Kail is no stranger to bringing the world of politics and entertainment together. After all, Hamilton was a huge commercial success, and took home eleven awards at the 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Direction of a Musical for Kail. It’s only logical to expect good things from the new Fiddler On The Roof.
Fiddler On The Roof will be produced by MGM Studios, Dan Jinks, and Aaron Harrick, and written by Steven Levenson.