The P.T. Barnum biopic The Greatest Showman on Earth has been ticking around town for years (at least since 2009) with Hugh Jackman attached to headline the circus impresario. The project may soon come underway as Variety revealed that Zac Efron is in talks to join the film. Michael Gracey is currently attached to direct the musical bio from a screenplay by Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City) and Oscar winner Bill Condon (Gods & Monsters). The film is set up at Fox.

Barnum was a 19th century showman and the founder of the famed Barnum and Bailey Circus. It’s unknown as of now that role Efron is being sought out for or who else might join the ensemble cast. Both Jackman and Efron might be fits for the film considering both have extensive musical backgrounds – Jackman won a Tony Award for the musical The Boy From Oz and earned an Oscar nomination for the 2012 musical Les Misérables while Efron rose to fame in the High School Musical films and also appeared in the 2007 musical adaptation Hairspray.

Efron can currently be seen on screen in the comedy Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and also appeared in Dirty Grandpa opposite Robert De Niro earlier this year. Next, he will be star opposite Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza in the comedy Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates. Next year, he will be seen in the screen adaptation of Baywatch as well as James Franco’s The Masterpiece, a behind-the-scenes film revolving around the making of the infamous “bad” movie The Room.

We will stay tuned to future developments on The Greatest Showman on Earth.