Sony Pictures Classics and Fathom Entertainment have launched the full trailer for Merrily We Roll Along, a filmed adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway revival starring Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe. The release follows the show’s conclusion at the Hudson Theatre in New York last July, where it had a celebrated run under the direction of Maria Friedman.
The production revived interest in the Stephen Sondheim musical, which originally opened unsuccessfully in 1981 but has since been recognized as a significant theatrical work. The 2023 revival marked its first Broadway appearance in decades.
Award-Winning Broadway Success
At the 2024 Tony Awards, this revival of Merrily We Roll Along earned four honors, including Best Musical Revival. Jonathan Groff won Best Lead Actor, while Daniel Radcliffe received the award for Best Featured Actor. The production also won Best Orchestrations, confirming its critical acclaim and impact within the theater community.
The availability of tickets online for the upcoming film release further expands the audience for this celebrated version of the show.
Storyline and Characters Explored in Reverse Chronology
The musical, written by Stephen Sondheim, follows the life of Franklin Shepard (played by Jonathan Groff), a famous composer, in reverse chronological order. It traces the evolution of his relationships with Mary (Lindsay Mendez), a writer, and Charley (Daniel Radcliffe), a playwright, over two decades, revealing the complexities of their personal and professional triumphs and challenges.
The 2023-24 Broadway production broke box office records at the Hudson Theatre and brought broader recognition to a piece once regarded as a cult oddity. Before its December 5 theatrical release, the filmed production will be shown at AFI Fest in Los Angeles on October 25.
Related Film Project and Future Releases
Simultaneously, acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater is creating a separate feature film version of Merrily We Roll Along. This adaptation uses a real-time, longitudinal filming approach similar to his previous work on Boyhood. The cast includes Paul Mescal, Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein, Mallory Bechtel, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Linklater’s version began filming in 2019 and is expected to continue production for approximately twenty years, mirroring the narrative’s extensive timespan. It currently has no confirmed release date.
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics and Fathom Entertainment will distribute the filmed Broadway revival nationwide in theaters starting December 5.
